Police in Prayagraj, India, resumed digging for hidden cash after three drums containing an estimated 3.2 million rupees were found buried beneath a home. (Foto: Instagram)
Police in India resumed digging on Sunday, Nov. 1, to search for more hidden cash after three large drums containing an estimated 3.2 million rupees were unearthed beneath a modest home. The money, worth approximately 183,600 Brazilian reais, was buried about 16 feet underground in Baraipur Ramnagar, a village in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh. The property’s owners, brothers Rakesh and Rajesh Yadav, were detained for questioning after the discovery on Wednesday, Oct. 28. Investigators say the brothers gave conflicting accounts of where the money came from.
Authorities suspect that additional cash may remain on the property because the brothers repeatedly changed their statements, making it difficult to determine how the money was accumulated or why it was buried. The two initially said the millions belonged to them, then withdrew that claim, according to the Economic Times. Police reportedly received a precise tip about where to look. The information was said to have come from neighbors after the brothers were involved in an argument in the village. The operation to recover the cash took more than four hours.
The recovered money consisted of thousands of bundles of 500-rupee notes. An anonymous tip alleged that the funds had not been declared and were therefore illegal. The discovery prompted investigators to examine the brothers’ property purchases and financial ties. India’s Income Tax Department is conducting separate inquiries focused on their transactions and investments, while authorities are also reviewing property purchases in Uttar Pradesh and possible financial connections in Pune and Mumbai.
Local residents said the brothers abruptly left their jobs and returned to the village during the COVID-19 pandemic. They said the brothers’ lifestyle changed markedly after their return, with the pair—who came from modest backgrounds—appearing to become wealthy suddenly. Residents said Rakesh and Rajesh Yadav, also known as Mahakal, began acquiring land, tractors, vehicles, luxury homes, local commercial properties, jewelry, funds and stocks. The rapid change drew attention in the village.
Local media also reported that the brothers started a business selling DJ equipment and another making cement. Police have not established how the cash was obtained or whether it was connected to the brothers’ purchases and investments. Their accounts of the buried money remain inconsistent, and inquiries into their finances and properties are continuing.
