Prayagraj: ₹5 crore cash found in drums during raid; accused bought 22 bighas after pandemic, tax officials got involved

Police recovered three barrels of cash from a house in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj district. The drums were buried underground in Baraipur Ramnagar village, according to PTI. According to Bhaskar English, the cash has exceeded ₹5 crore and included in the package ₹500 notes.

Ganganagar Deputy Commissioner of Police Sonam Kumar shared the details of the recovery. He identified the property as the house of Rajesh Yadav and Rakesh Yadav.

Police received information about suspected stolen money buried in the plot, PTI reported. The teams arrived at the village and retrieved the drums under the supervision of senior officers.

According to PTI, assistant commissioners of police from Soraon and Phulpur were supervising the restoration. DCP Kumar said the operation was recorded on video. The police sealed the barrels and stored them in the police warehouse.

On Thursday night, Income Tax officials arrived to count the money and determine the amount. Kumar said it is possible to recover the cash.

The suspects were taken into custody for questioning. The tax officials would also question them about the source of the money.

Bhaskar English said four people were detained. He identified Rakesh Yadav alias Mahakal and named his brother Babla among those arrested.

The police cut off the electricity supply in the village before starting the search. The report said officers arrived at the home around 6:00 p.m. Wednesday.

The search continued for about four and a half hours and ended around 10:30 p.m. Officers found three blue barrels containing wads of money wrapped in cloth, the report said.

The police cordoned off the house and placed security tape around the nearby property and Rakesh’s garden. More than 40 police officers were deployed around the building.

Post-pandemic gold rush

Villagers told Bhaskar English that Rakesh used to work at a jeweler’s house in Pune. They said he returned during the COVID-19 pandemic and later bought substantial property.

Their claims included the purchase of 22 large plots of land worth more than ₹10 million crowns. They also claimed that he spent in the area ₹1 million to build a house.

The villagers mentioned two tractors, a DJ system, a pickup truck and a building materials store. These accounts remain villagers’ claims about his purchases.

Bhaskar English also reported the recent dispute between Rakesh and the neighbors, which was followed by an FIR. The visiting sub-inspector later argued with Rakesh during the investigation, the report said.

Further police investigations highlighted allegations of hidden cash.

“Police were deployed around Rakesh’s house. Billions of rupees were recovered from three drums buried underground,” Kumar added.