Police seize cash stashed in Ajit Pawar's vehicle

Maharashtra Police have seized Rs.4.85 lakh from a car allegedly belonging to senior Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and former state deputy chief minister Ajit Pawar, an official said here Wednesday.

The police also seized some visiting cards and clothes of Pawar from the intercepted vehicle along with the cash stashed in two bags, Parbhani Superintendent of Police Anant Rokde told the media.

Pawar and his aides were not available for their comments in the matter, though top NCP officials maintained they were not aware of the incident.

The driver of the vehicle has been identified as Krishna Hazare, who informed the police that the clothes belong to Pawar and an aide.

While one bag in the vehicle, proceeding to Latur from Parbhani when it was intercepted at Gangakhed, had Rs.400,000 in cash, clothes and visiting cards of Pawar, another bag contained personal items of an aide and Rs.85,000 in cash.

No case was registered till late Wednesday night but Rokde said the matter has been referred to the state election department for action.

Police have seized more than Rs.5 crore in cash in seven incidents across the state so far. The money was allegedly intended to be used to influence voters in the Oct 15 assembly elections.