Nalasopara, a bustling city in the outskirts of Mumbai, was rocked on Thursday when a van containing ₹3.5 crore in cash was seized by the local police. The cash, found in a vehicle operated by CMS, a company that supplies money to ATMs, far exceeded the amount recorded in the van’s documents. The incident sparked immediate concern, prompting an investigation by the Crime Branch, which is now looking into why the amount of cash did not match the official records.
The discovery occurred when Unit 3 of the Crime Branch was out conducting election-related patrolling near the Civic Center area in Nalasopara. Around 3 p.m., the officers observed a CMS van parked in the vicinity, leading them to check the vehicle. They soon discovered a discrepancy between the cash amount recorded in the documents and the actual cash found inside the vehicle. While the documents only accounted for ₹45 lakh, the officers found an astounding ₹3.5 crore inside the van. This large gap immediately raised questions, and the authorities decided to seize the van along with its cash and detain the two people on board for further questioning.
When questioned, the van operators claimed that they were en route to refill cash in various ATMs, explaining that they were merely delivering funds for routine ATM maintenance. However, the police noted that the figures did not add up, sparking concerns about where the extra cash was coming from and where it was intended to go. The inconsistency between the documentation and the actual cash pointed to possible mismanagement or unauthorized handling of funds.
Adding to the seriousness of the situation, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Avinash Ambure personally arrived at the scene to oversee the investigation. His presence underscored the gravity of the incident, as it involved a substantial amount of cash that exceeded the documented total by a large margin. The DCP and his team are now delving deeper into the matter to understand whether this was a case of human error, an accounting glitch, or potentially something more illicit.
The incident also attracted local political leaders and activists, especially from the Bahujan Vikas Aaghadi (BVA) party. BVA leader Umesh Naik raised suspicions about the nature of the cash found in the vehicle, questioning why only ₹45 lakh had been documented while the van was carrying ₹3.5 crore. Naik demanded that the police conduct a thorough investigation to identify who was responsible for the excess funds and whether there were any intended beneficiaries. He emphasized the need for transparency and accountability in cash handling, especially during the election period when rules are particularly stringent.
The incident brings to light the role of CMS, the company managing the van, which has a presence in the Mira-Bhayander and Vasai-Virar regions and handles ATM cash replenishment in these areas. According to preliminary information, CMS is responsible for ensuring that ATMs in the region are stocked with cash regularly, and they operate under strict guidelines, especially during election periods. CMS is expected to follow all compliance measures outlined by the Election Commission, including clear documentation and transparency regarding cash transfers. However, in this case, the substantial discrepancy suggests a potential breach of these protocols. The current guidelines mandate meticulous documentation to prevent any misuse of funds during election time, and this incident has raised questions about CMS’s compliance.
The police now plan to carry out a detailed investigation, which will include a ‘panchnama,’ or an official record of evidence, to accurately determine the total amount of cash seized. This record will be critical in establishing the facts and understanding the scale of the inconsistency. Furthermore, senior police officials have assured the public that there appears to be no political connection in this matter and that the cash belongs to the bank. However, the officials acknowledged that a technical error might have occurred during documentation, leading to the mismatch. Until this is confirmed, the incident remains under close examination.
The discovery of this large sum has understandably led to various speculations among residents and local politicians alike. With elections approaching, the presence of such an enormous amount of unrecorded cash raises valid concerns about its potential misuse. The public is keen to know whether there were any intentions of funneling this money for electoral purposes or other unauthorized activities. Despite the authorities’ reassurances that no political party is involved, local leaders are pressing for greater transparency and rigorous checks to ensure such incidents do not happen again.
Meanwhile, the police are expected to consult CMS and bank officials to verify the cash’s origin and destination. They will be scrutinizing the internal procedures followed by CMS to determine whether this discrepancy was the result of negligence or a deliberate act. CMS’s response and cooperation in this matter will be crucial in the days to come, as the investigation team aims to clarify the sequence of events and ensure that proper measures are put in place to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In addition to the police investigation, some local activists have also called for tighter regulations on cash-handling companies. They believe that such companies should undergo more frequent audits to prevent lapses in accountability. Some are suggesting that election-time guidelines for cash transfers be even stricter, with real-time monitoring by regulatory authorities to track large cash movements effectively.
As of now, the investigation is ongoing, and the police are expected to provide updates in the coming days. Until then, residents of Nalasopara are left wondering about the circumstances surrounding the ₹3.5 crore and what this incident might mean for the transparency and integrity of cash handling in their community.
