Prayagraj cash drums held Rs 3.2 crore | Nagaland.News

PRAYAGRAJ – The cash found in three drums buried under a house in Uttar Pradesh’s Prayagraj district adds up to Rs 3.21 crore, according to Hindi news outlets that cited the Income Tax Department’s count.

India TV and Times Now Hindi reported the final figure, Rs 3,20,93,000, on Sunday (1 November). Neither named an official, and Nagaland.News could not find a public statement from the department.

The count is well below early estimates. Bhaskar English had put the amount above Rs 5 crore, ANI reported Rs 3 crore to Rs 4 crore, and Times Now Hindi said initial guesses ran as high as Rs 8 crore to Rs 10 crore.

Police have not said who owns the money or where it came from. No arrest or criminal charge linked to the cash had been reported by Sunday.

How the drums were found

The drums were recovered from a house in Baraipur Ramnagar village, under Nawabganj police station in the Ganga Nagar zone, about 32 km from Prayagraj city. Deputy Commissioner of Police (Ganga Nagar) Sonam Kumar told PTI the house belongs to Rajesh Yadav and Rakesh Yadav.

Kumar said police received information on Wednesday (28 October) about “suspected stolen money” buried at the property. According to PTI, the Assistant Commissioners of Police of Soraon and Phulpur supervised the recovery, which was recorded on video. The sealed drums were deposited in the police storeroom.

Bhaskar English reported that officers reached the house around 6 pm, cut the village’s electricity supply and searched for about four and a half hours. They found three blue drums holding bundles of Rs 500 notes wrapped in cloth, the report said. Free Press Journal and ETV Bharat reported that Additional DCP Pushkar Verma led the team.

More than 40 police personnel were deployed around the house, its garden and nearby land, Bhaskar English reported.

“Police have been deployed around Rakesh’s house. Crores of rupees were recovered from three drums buried underground,” Kumar said.

Search continues after count

Income Tax officials reached the house on Thursday evening to count the money, PTI reported. Kumar said further recoveries were possible.

The search did not end with the count. India TV and Times Now Hindi reported that labourers were digging up rooms and the courtyard, and that CCTV cameras had been installed inside and outside the house.

Times Now Hindi reported that the floors of four rooms had been dug to about three feet, turning up several large locked boxes. Income Tax and administration teams took the boxes into custody, it said, but their contents have not been disclosed. Police have not confirmed these details on record.

Who is being questioned

PTI reported that suspects were taken into custody for questioning, and that tax officials would also ask them about the source of the money.

Reports differ on who was held. Bhaskar English said four people were detained. It identified Rakesh Yadav by the alias Mahakal and named his brother, Bablu, among them. ETV Bharat also reported that Bablu was taken into custody.

ANI, citing police, reported that one person was detained and was giving “evasive responses”. On Sunday, India TV reported that Rajesh and Rakesh Yadav were being questioned.

None of them has been charged in connection with the cash. The family’s response has not been reported.

What villagers claim

Villagers told Bhaskar English that Rakesh had worked at a jewellery trader’s house in Pune and returned home during the COVID-19 pandemic. They said he later bought substantial property.

Their claims include 22 bighas of land worth more than Rs 10 crore, a house built for around Rs 1 crore, two tractors, a DJ system, a pickup vehicle and a building materials business. Police have not confirmed any of these claims.

ANI reported that investigators are verifying the Pune company where the brothers reportedly worked.

Neighbour dispute led to scrutiny

Bhaskar English reported that a recent dispute between Rakesh and his neighbours led to an FIR against him. A visiting sub-inspector later argued with Rakesh during inquiries, it said, and further inquiries brought attention to allegations of hidden cash.

Free Press Journal reported that the dispute took place five to six days before the search. That FIR relates to the neighbour dispute, not to the cash.