Police agencies across Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa have launched a coordinated manhunt after two container trucks allegedly carrying ₹400 crore in cash, largely in ₹2,000 denomination notes, went missing along the forested Chorla Ghat stretch on the Maharashtra–Karnataka border. The incident, which occurred in October 2025, has triggered one of the most extensive multi-state criminal investigations in recent years.
The cash consignment, according to investigators, comprised ₹2,000 notes that were withdrawn from circulation in May 2023 but continue to remain legal tender. The containers reportedly disappeared in the accident-prone Chorla Ghat area of Khanapur taluk in Belagavi district, a tri-junction zone bordering Maharashtra, Karnataka and Goa.
The case came to light following a complaint filed by Sandeep Patil, a resident of Igatpuri in Nashik district, who alleged that he was abducted at gunpoint, illegally detained for over a month, and subjected to physical and mental torture. Patil claimed that his abductors accused him of masterminding the disappearance of the cash-laden containers and demanded ₹400 crore from him.
According to the complaint, Patil managed to escape captivity and approached the police, prompting the registration of a case and the constitution of a Special Investigation Team (SIT). The alleged abduction subsequently exposed the larger mystery surrounding the missing containers.
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So far, six persons have been arrested in connection with the case. The accused have been identified as Jayesh Kadam, Vishal Naidu, Sunil Dhumal, Virat Gandhi, Janardan Dhaygude and Sayyed Azhar. Investigators say the arrests were made following technical surveillance, financial trail analysis and interrogation of multiple suspects linked to the movement of the trucks.
Preliminary findings suggest that the cash originated in Karnataka and was allegedly intended to be transported to Gujarat, where it was to be converted into other denominations before being moved onward to Maharashtra. Investigators are examining whether the funds were linked to illegal financial networks, including hawala transactions.
Among the accused, Virat Gandhi is said to be a hawala operator based in Ahmedabad, while another accused named in the FIR is described as a Thane-based builder, believed to have been the principal beneficiary had the containers reached their intended destination. Police are also probing the role of intermediaries who allegedly tracked the movement of the trucks through the forest corridor.
Investigators believe the two trucks were intercepted and targeted deliberately while passing through the isolated Chorla Ghat jungles, where poor visibility, limited connectivity and sparse traffic make surveillance difficult. The area has long been considered vulnerable to smuggling and organised crime due to its terrain and proximity to three states.
Authorities from all three states have begun sharing intelligence, call-detail records, vehicle movement data and CCTV footage from toll plazas and highways to reconstruct the route taken by the missing containers. Financial investigators are also analysing bank records and cash movement patterns to determine the ultimate trail of the missing money.
While the alleged disappearance occurred in October 2025, the matter remained largely under wraps until the abduction complaint brought it to public attention earlier this year. Investigators are now examining whether delays in reporting the missing containers were deliberate and whether multiple layers of conspiracy were involved.
Police sources said the probe has been widened to examine the source of the cash, its intended use, and the possibility of larger organised crime or financial networks operating across state lines. Further arrests are expected as investigators question associates of the accused and trace logistical support provided during the operation.
The case remains under active investigation, with recovery of the missing cash and identification of additional conspirators among the primary objectives of the multi-state task force.
About the author – Ayesha Aayat is a law student and contributor covering cybercrime, online frauds, and digital safety concerns. Her writing aims to raise awareness about evolving cyber threats and legal responses.
