Nagpur: The employee of coal supply trader who had fled with Rs 70 lakh cash was nabbed in Buldana district by Ganeshpeth police within 48 hours of the crime. Cops have recovered Rs 69.70 lakh from the possession of the accused.

The Nilesh Ashok Pakhale (31), resident of Krishna Nagar, Kharbi, was working as driver with the owner of the coal supply company Nitin Marotrao Upre (37), resident of Godrej Anandam City.

The accused Nilesh Pakhale had decamped with Rs 70 lakh cash on Friday. He first visited his maternal relative at Ajni. This was at about 2.30 pm. From there he phoned his wife and directed her to meet him at Tukdoji Square and bring important household things. The accused booked a Scorpio SUV and went to Amravati on Friday itself and spent the night at a hotel. On Saturday, Pakhale with his family boarded MSRTC’s Shivneri bus and went up to Aurangabad and thereafter planned to reach Shirdi. After crossing Dusarbid town in Buldana district, Pakhale decided to change his plan and directed the car driver to head for Saoner. Ganeshpeth police who were tracking his movement, intercepted Pakhale near Dusarbid in Buldana district.

Being a‘trusted man’ of Upre, the accused was used to delivering cash and handling other important work. Upre and his four associates are engaged in coal business and they earn huge profits every day. On Friday, one person from Chandrapur handed over the cash to Pakhale on behalf of Upre. As instructed by Upre, Pakhale went to his Godrej Anandam City resident but fled with the cash. The accused was booked under Section 408 of IPC.

The arrest was made by Police Inspector Sunil Gangurde, PSI AP Atram and staff including Anand Wankhede, Sharad Chambhare, Amit Satpute,Ashish Bahad and Woman Police Constable Priti Thakre.