Four lakh rupees found scattered on Meerut-Karnal highway; public hands over cash to police

Passersby on the busy Meerut–Karnal National Highway in Uttar Pradesh made an unusual discovery on the evening of 10 June 2024. A bundle of currency notes, amounting to ₹4 lakh, was found scattered on the roadside near the town of Baghpat. Local residents, who spotted the cash while driving, stopped their vehicles and collected the money before alerting the nearby Gulaothi police station.

According to police sources, the cash was found spread over approximately 50 metres near the Baghpat bypass. The notes were of various denominations, including ₹2,000, ₹500, and ₹100 bills. The passersby handed over the entire amount to the police, who registered a case under Section 409 of the Indian Penal Code (criminal breach of trust) and Section 120-B (criminal conspiracy). The FIR was lodged at Gulaothi police station, and a probe has been initiated to trace the owner of the money.

Police suspect the cash may have fallen from a vehicle during transit, possibly due to a mishap or deliberate act. No vehicle has been traced so far, and authorities are reviewing CCTV footage from nearby areas to identify any suspicious movement. The recovered cash has been deposited in the police station’s malkhana (evidence locker) for safekeeping until the rightful owner comes forward.