Guj youths held in Pune with Rs73 lakh in cash

Three Pune-based youths were arrested by on Saturday evening for allegedly carrying Rs73 lakh in cash while on their way to Pune from Goa. The notes were in denominations of Rs500 and Rs1,000. The suspects have been identified as Narendra Kashiram Prajapati, 28, Ghanshyam Jadeja, 28, and Manoj Narendra Thakur, 27, all residents of Pune.

Karad DSP, Vijay Dalavi, received a tip-off that a large amount of cash was being transported to Pune. Accordingly, Dalavi stopped the Maruti Swift car which was going to Pune from Goa in Karad town. The cash was found stashed in the car. According to the police, the youths failed to give any details about the cash. “They could not give any receipt, bill or any document regarding the cash,” Karad police inspector Sambhaji Patil told DNA. After the arrest, Satara superintendent of police Prakash Mutyal and additional superintendent of police Digambar Pradhan rushed to Karad. Patil said police were probing the matter.

The three have been booked under section 41(1) of CrPC for suspicious possession of property or money. Police investigating the case suspect that the money was being transported to Pune through the Angadia courier service, which transports money and jewellery to various locations in the country.

Angadis charge a certain percentage of the amount as service fee. The big Angadis (called wholesalers) charge Rs100 per Rs1 lakh, while smaller ones (called retailers) charge Rs200 per lakh. An insider told DNA that hawala money is also transported through the service.