India News | Fire, Wind Help MP Cops Seize Rs 1.74 Cr from Mumbai-bound SUV

Seoni (MP), Feb 1 (PTI) A fire in a Mumbai-bound SUV and winds that blew currency from bags kept inside led to the police in Madhya Pradesh's Seoni seize Rs 1.74 crore, an official said on Monday.

The SUV caught fire near Bahmani village, which damaged Rs 1.50 lakh in 500 rupee denomination notes, and when the people inside the car kept the bags on the road as part of rescue efforts, a strong gust of wind blew wads of currency into the air and onto the road, attracting the attention of passersby, said Seoni Superintendent of Police Kumar Prateek.

"The incident took place on Sunday evening. On being alerted, a police team rushed to the spot. The people apprehended have said they carried gold from Mumbai to Varanasi, and were carrying Rs 1.74 crore cash back on the instructions of a trader," he said.

They hid the currency in a chamber under the vehicle's bonnet, seats etc, and the fire may have started in the vehicle due to a short circuit, the SP added.

"The three persons in the car escaped after passersby spotted the cash, but were nabbed by Kurai police on national highway 44. The three, identified as Sunil Verma (35), Gyas Babu (42) and Hariom Yadav (38), residents of Uttar Pradesh, are giving conflicting statements about the antecedent of the cash. Further probe is on," the SP said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)