Lucknow: The investigation into the seizure of Rs 26 lakh in unaccounted cash from a luxury car and an SUV in the Aashiana area has widened, with police now probing the financial background of those involved after learning that the car was being used by Shivanshu Pandey, son of a serving sub-inspector posted at Chowk police station.Police sources said the BMW changed hands multiple times and was currently owned by the sub-inspector’s son, who is understood to be the third owner of the vehicle.Police are verifying the ownership trail and examining whether the transfer of the vehicle has any bearing on the cash recovery.The cash was seized during a vehicle-checking drive near Smriti Upvan after police intercepted a BMW with an unusual number plate and black-tinted windows parked alongside a Scorpio SUV. A search of the vehicles led to the recovery of 52 bundles of Rs 500 notes, amounting to Rs 26 lakh.Three persons, Shivanshu Pandey, 21 , Rochman Verma, 19 , and Rachit Thakur alias Atharv, 21, were arrested after they allegedly failed to provide a satisfactory explanation or documents establishing the lawful source of the cash.Police sources said investigators have now sought details of the accused’s bank accounts, financial transactions and income records as part of the probe.The Income Tax Department, which was informed immediately after the recovery, has initiated its own proceedings. Police are awaiting the department’s report, which is expected to play a key role in determining the source and ownership of the cash, as well as the future course of the investigation.
