Pune: In a major seizure, Pune Police confiscated gold valued at Rs 138 crore from a tempo on Wednesday, during a routine blockade near Sahakar Nagar. The tempo was flagged down by officers who noticed it under suspicious circumstances within the jurisdiction of the Sahakar Nagar police station. Upon inspection, they found the massive gold stash hidden inside.
According to the police, the tempo’s owner provided limited information on the consignment, unable to produce any valid documentation verifying the origin or destination of the gold. As a result, the police have summoned a key person responsible for delivering the tempo to the owner, hoping to gather more information on the unusual consignment’s source and intended delivery.
Tax and police probe underway
Further complicating matters, the income tax department has been informed of the seizure and has initiated its own inquiry. Tax officials will scrutinise the available documents to ascertain whether the gold was in transit for a legitimate purpose or if it was being transported under illegal circumstances.
The police expressed heightened suspicion due to the sheer quantity of the gold found in the tempo. “An operation of this scale raises serious questions. We’re investigating all possible angles,” an official familiar with the investigation said. Both the gold and the vehicle remain in police custody while authorities proceed with the inquiry.
