Belagavi police have officially joined the investigation being carried out by Maharashtra police into the sensational theft of demonetised currency worth ₹400 crore at Chorla Ghat.
Belagavi Superintendent of Police K Ramarajan confirmed that his office received a formal request for cooperation from Maharashtra police on Friday.
According to investigators, two trucks carrying containers filled with demonetised currency were travelling from the Karnataka–Goa border towards Maharashtra when the theft occurred at Chorla Ghat. Although the incident took place in Karnataka, the case has been registered at Ghoti Police Station, under Nashik police jurisdiction.
So far, Nashik police have arrested four accused in connection with the case. However, the main accused, Thane-based builder Kishore Savla, is still absconding.
The First Information Report (FIR) was filed based on a complaint by Sandeep Datta Patil, who has submitted digital evidence to support his claims. In his complaint, Patil alleged that after the theft came to light, he was abducted and assaulted by individuals linked to an influential builder. He further claimed that some Nashik police personnel, aides of a hawala operator, and other individuals were involved in the incident.
Patil also alleged that certain police officers tracked the movement of the demonetised currency on the instructions of a builder and a politician associated with him.
Sources familiar with the investigation claim that the seized demonetised notes were linked to a political party in Maharashtra and were intended to be used for local body elections. According to the allegations, an ashram was entrusted with converting the demonetised notes into smaller, legal currency denominations before sending the money back to Maharashtra.
As per the alleged deal, the ashram was to provide ₹170 crore in valid currency on a 60:40 commission basis. The converted funds were reportedly meant for election campaign expenses and post-election political activities.
Given the seriousness and political implications of the case, the Maharashtra government has constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the matter in detail.
Confirming Belagavi police involvement, SP K Ramarajan stated that his department will extend full cooperation to the Maharashtra police as the investigation progresses.