Belagavi police have formally joined the investigation being conducted by Maharashtra police into the theft of demonetised currency worth ₹400 crore at Chorla Ghat.
Belagavi Superintendent of Police K. Ramarajan confirmed that his office received an official request for assistance from the Maharashtra police on Friday and will extend full cooperation in the probe.
Investigators said two trucks carrying containers loaded with demonetised notes were travelling from the Karnataka–Goa border towards Maharashtra when the theft occurred at Chorla Ghat. Although the incident occurred within Karnataka’s limits, the case has been registered at Ghoti Police Station in Nashik district.
So far, Nashik police have arrested four people in connection with the case, while the prime accused, Thane-based builder Kishore Savla, remains absconding.
The First Information Report was registered based on a complaint filed by Sandeep Datta Patil, a Nashik resident, who has provided digital evidence to support his allegations. In his complaint, Patil claimed that after the theft was exposed, he was abducted and assaulted by persons allegedly linked to a powerful builder. He further alleged the involvement of some Nashik police personnel, aides of a hawala operator, and others.
Patil also claimed that certain police officers tracked the movement of the demonetised currency on the instructions of the builder and a politician associated with him.
Sources familiar with the investigation said the seized demonetised notes were allegedly linked to a political party in Maharashtra and were intended for use in local body elections. It was alleged that an ashram was assigned the task of converting the demonetised currency into smaller legal denominations before sending it back to Maharashtra.
As per the alleged arrangement, the ashram was to provide ₹170 crore in valid currency on a 60:40 commission basis. The converted funds were reportedly meant for election-related expenses and post-election political activities.
In view of the seriousness and wider implications of the case, the Maharashtra government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to carry out a detailed probe.
