Police resumed digging at a home in Uttar Pradesh after discovering three drums containing an estimated 3.2 million rupees in cash. (Foto: Instagram)
Police in India resumed digging Sunday, Nov. 1, after uncovering three large drums containing an estimated 3.2 million rupees beneath a modest home. The cash was buried about five meters underground in Baraipur Ramnagar, a village in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The brothers who own the home, Rakesh and Rajesh Yadav, were detained for questioning after the discovery on Wednesday, Oct. 28.
Authorities said the brothers repeatedly changed their accounts, making it difficult to determine how the money was accumulated or why it was buried. They initially acknowledged owning the cash, then withdrew that claim, according to the Economic Times. Their conflicting statements raised police suspicions that additional money could still be hidden on the property, prompting the renewed search.
Police reportedly received a specific tip about where to look. The information is believed to have come from neighbors after the brothers were involved in an argument in the village. The operation to locate and recover the cash took more than four hours. The money consisted of thousands of bundles of 500-rupee notes. An anonymous complaint alleged that the funds had not been declared and were therefore illegal.
Local residents said the brothers abruptly left their jobs and returned to the village during the COVID-19 pandemic. They later saw a sharp change in the men’s lifestyle. Rajesh and Rakesh Yadav, who is also known as Mahakal, began acquiring land, tractors, vehicles, luxury homes, local businesses, jewelry, mutual funds and stocks. Local media also reported that the brothers started businesses selling DJ equipment and producing cement.
Investigators are examining the brothers’ property purchases and financial ties. India’s Income Tax Department is conducting separate inquiries focused on their transactions and investments. Authorities are also reviewing property acquisitions in Uttar Pradesh and possible financial connections in Pune and Mumbai. The recovered amount is estimated at 3.2 million rupees, equivalent to about 183,600 Brazilian reais.
