₹11.98 lakh unaccounted cash seized from car in Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh
Synopsis
Over ₹11.98 lakh in suspected unaccounted cash was found in a bag inside a car on an Odisha-route highway in Mahasamund — and the carrier could not explain where it came from. With a vehicle and two phones also seized, total property worth ₹20.08 lakh is now under investigation, and police say a wider network may surface.
Key Takeaways
₹11,98,300 in suspected unaccounted cash was seized from a car on Padampur Road, Basna in Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh on 27 August .
The cash was recovered from Karuna Naik , 32 , a resident of Odisha , who failed to explain its source.
A Maruti Ertiga (reg.
OD 03 Q 8419 ) valued at ₹8 lakh and two mobile phones were also seized.
Total value of seized property stands at ₹20,08,300 .
Seizure was made under Section 106 of the BNSS ; a notice under Section 94 of the BNSS has been issued to the accused.
Police say a wider network is expected to be uncovered as the investigation proceeds.
Police in Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh, seized ₹11,98,300 in suspected unaccounted cash from a car intercepted during a night checking operation on Padampur Road in Basna on Wednesday, 27 August. The cash was recovered from Karuna Naik, 32, a resident of Odisha, who could not produce valid documents to establish its legitimacy.
How the Seizure Unfolded
Authorities were conducting intensive vehicle checks along the Odisha route when a suspicious Maruti Ertiga bearing registration number OD 03 Q 8419 was intercepted. During the search, officers found a bag containing a large amount of cash in Naik's possession. The amount was counted in the presence of witnesses and confirmed at ₹11,98,300, according to police.
When questioned about the source and purpose of the money, Naik reportedly failed to provide a satisfactory explanation and was unable to furnish any supporting documentation.
What Was Seized
Acting under Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), police seized the cash along with the vehicle — valued at approximately ₹8 lakh — and two mobile phones. The total value of all seized property has been placed at ₹20,08,300.
A notice has also been issued to Naik under Section 94 of the BNSS, directing him to produce valid documents relating to the cash within the stipulated period.
Investigation Under Way
Police officials told reporters that more significant details are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses. Authorities indicated that a wider network may be exposed once relevant documents are made available and the accused is questioned further. This comes amid sustained enforcement drives across Chhattisgarh targeting unaccounted cash movements on inter-state routes, particularly ahead of electoral cycles.
Further legal proceedings are under way to ascertain the origin and intended use of the seized amount.
Point of View
Combined with an Odisha-registered vehicle on a cross-border route, points to a supply chain that enforcement agencies will want to trace. The invocation of BNSS Section 94 to compel document production is procedurally sound, but the real test is whether investigators can follow the money upstream. Chhattisgarh has seen a pattern of such seizures on Odisha-border routes, and without prosecutions that reach the principal beneficiaries, these interceptions function more as disruptions than deterrents.
NationPress
27 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How much cash was seized in the Mahasamund operation?
Police seized ₹11,98,300 in suspected unaccounted cash from a car intercepted on Padampur Road in Basna, Mahasamund, Chhattisgarh on 27 August. The total value of all seized property, including the vehicle and two mobile phones, is ₹20,08,300.
Who was arrested in the Mahasamund cash seizure?
The cash was found in the possession of Karuna Naik, 32, a resident of Odisha. He was intercepted while travelling in a Maruti Ertiga on the Odisha route and could not provide a satisfactory explanation for the money or produce valid documents.
Under which law was the cash seized?
The cash was seized under Section 106 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). A separate notice under Section 94 of the BNSS has been issued to the accused, directing him to produce valid documents relating to the cash.
What happens next in the Mahasamund cash case?
Further legal proceedings are under way to determine the source and purpose of the seized cash. Police have indicated that a wider network may be exposed as the investigation progresses and documents are produced by the accused.
Why are police conducting checks on the Odisha route in Chhattisgarh?
Authorities have been running intensive vehicle-checking operations along the Odisha border route in Chhattisgarh to intercept unaccounted cash and other contraband. Such drives are part of broader enforcement efforts targeting inter-state cash movements.
