Lucknow: Aashiana police seized Rs 26 lakh in unaccounted cash from a BMW and a Scorpio SUV parked near Social Point Restaurant close to Smriti Upvan early Saturday.The seizure was made during a checking drive against high-end SUVs using black-tinted windows, unauthorised hooters and improper number plates.Aashiana station house officer Om Prakash Yadav said police noticed a BMW bearing an unusual number plate and fitted with black-tinted film parked near Smriti Upvan. A Scorpio SUV was also parked nearby, with three men standing near the vehicles under suspicious circumstances.He said that when the cops asked the men to produce the vehicle documents, they allegedly failed to do so. Police later searched the vehicles and found 52 bundles of Rs 500 notes totalling Rs 26 lakh concealed in a compartment of the BMW.On being questioned, the men failed to produce documents establishing the lawful source of the money and could not furnish any satisfactory explanation.Police immediately informed the Income Tax Department, whose officials reached the spot and initiated necessary legal proceedings.Verification through the police e-challan application revealed that the BMW was registered in the name of Shivanshu Kumar Pandey, while the Scorpio was registered in the name of Krishna Kumar Singh.Police subsequently arrested the three men, identified as Shivanshu Pandey (21), Rochman Verma (19) and Rachit Thakur alias Atharv (21).Officials said further investigation is underway to ascertain the source, ownership and intended use of the seized cash.
