Investigating agencies have launched an extensive inquiry after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence intercepted a car travelling from Shahjahanpur to Delhi and seized ₹3 crore in unaccounted cash. Acting on a specific intelligence tip-off, officials intercepted the vehicle near the Chhijarsi Toll Plaza in Pilkhuwa on Saturday. A search of the vehicle initially yielded ₹35 lakh stored inside a bag, while an additional ₹2.65 crore was found hidden inside specially modified cavities built directly into the car doors. When questioned on the spot, the occupants failed to produce valid documentation to account for the substantial sum or provide a clear explanation regarding its origin and destination.
Cash Concealed Inside Specially Built Door Cavities
The deliberate modification of the vehicle has emerged as a central focus of the investigation. Officials discovered that custom secret compartments had been built into the car doors to transport the bulk of the money discreetly. After recovering the initial ₹35 lakh from a bag on the seat, officers dismantled the door panels to uncover the remaining ₹2.65 crore packed tightly within the vehicle’s frame.
The recovery has prompted investigators to scrutinise the identities of the occupants, their background, and their exact relationship with the real owners of the funds. Authorities are currently recording statements from the passengers and examining transport-related papers to ascertain whether the consignment was tied to a commercial transaction or another financial channel. While concealing funds within a vehicle does not by itself prove criminal origin, the sophisticated concealment method points to deliberate efforts to evade surveillance along highway checkpoints.
Income Tax Department Takes Over Financial Probe
Following the seizure, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence alerted the Income Tax Department to formally investigate the financial aspects of the recovery. Tax authorities are now tasked with tracing the legitimate ownership of the cash, auditing relevant business accounts, and tracking banking transactions linked to the individuals involved. Officials confirmed that proceedings will be initiated under applicable tax laws if the probe reveals undisclosed income or statutory violations.
Investigators are focusing on verifying whether the individuals travelling in the car were merely couriers or directly tied to the capital being moved. The inquiry aims to establish a clear paper trail, verifying legitimate business operations in Shahjahanpur that might explain the movement of such large volumes of physical currency. Official conclusions regarding the legitimacy of the money and any subsequent legal action will depend strictly on the financial records produced during the ongoing assessment.
Scrutiny Increases Amid Upcoming Assembly Elections
The timing and scale of the interception have drawn widespread attention due to the upcoming assembly elections in Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand. Enforcement authorities across the region routinely heighten highway checks during election periods to detect and curtail the illicit movement of cash, which can be deployed to influence voters or fund unauthorised campaign activities.
Despite heightened vigilance, investigators clarified that there is currently no official confirmation linking the seized ₹3 crore to any electoral operations. The volume of cash and its concealment are insufficient on their own to establish political or electoral motives without concrete corroborating evidence. For now, the joint inquiry remains focused on establishing the source of the funds, identifying the intended recipients in Delhi, and determining whether any financial laws were broken during the transit.
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