The Election Commission’s flying squad, working alongside the Mumbai Police, seized more than ₹2 crores on Monday, January 5, as part of intensified efforts to curb the movement of unaccounted money ahead of the 2026 Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections.
The action was taken during a heightened vehicle-checking aimed at maintaining a transparent and inducement-free electoral process.
Acting on specific intelligence about a suspicious vehicle, officials conducted a search and recovered cash amounting to ₹2.33 crore. The seizure occurred during a routine nakabandi in Mumbai’s Deonar area, where two vans were stopped for inspection.
According to reports, the occupants claimed that the money was being transported for replenishing ATMs across the city. However, authorities found that the required documents and authorisations for legally transporting such a large sum of cash were either incomplete or inadequately verified, IANS reported.
Following the seizure, the Election Commission promptly informed the Income Tax Department. Dedicated teams from the department have since launched a parallel probe to identify the legitimate source of the cash and verify its intended use.
The Deonar police have registered the complaint and an investigation is progressing rapidly.
It is pertinent to note that flying squads are deployed across the state, including Mumbai, and blockades are in place at the city entrances amid the ongoing code of conduct due to civic body polls.
Also Read: BMC Elections 2026: 2,103 political banners, flexes removed after model code of conduct enforced
The Income Tax Department, Mumbai, has set up a 24x7 Control Room to curb the misuse of money power during the forthcoming Municipal Corporation Elections in Maharashtra, 2025–26.
The initiative has been undertaken with a view to ensuring free and fair elections and maintaining the purity of the electoral process. The Control Room will function as part of the election monitoring mechanism of the Income Tax Department and will remain operational throughout the period when the Model Code of Conduct (MCC) is in force.
The Control Room has been established to enable conscientious citizens and residents of the State to provide information regarding the use of unaccounted cash, valuables or other inducements for electioneering purposes. Members of the public may share information through WhatsApp, text message or phone on 7738113758, or via email at mumbai.addldit.inv8@incometax.gov.in. The Control Room is located at Room No. 316, 3rd Floor, Scindia House, Ballard Estate, Mumbai – 400001. The Income Tax Department, Mumbai, reiterates its commitment to taking swift and effective action on credible information to prevent the misuse of money power.
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