Police unearth hawala network after catching robbers, kingpin yet to be arrested

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Mangaluru police arrested five people in connection with a heist in which three persons intercepted a person riding a scooter and made good their escape after stealing ₹16.2 lakh from him. According to the police, the cash stolen by the accused was hawala money.

Addressing media-persons on Friday, March 26, Police Commissioner N Shashi Kumar said, “The arrested are Mohammed Rifath from Ullal, Ashfaq from Faisalnagar working in APMC, Jaffer Sadiq who runs sand business at BC Road, Mohammed Ismail, a Dubai returnee, and Mayyadi, a driver from Padubidri.”

“₹ 95,000, a bike and car was seized from them”, said Shashi Kumar.

“The kingpin of the hawala racket is yet to be arrested. He had handed over the huge sum of money to the complainant Abdul Salam, who is an agent. Abdul used to deliver money to respective parties”, the police said.

The complainant had claimed that he was carrying that much cash to purchase clothes and gold ornaments for the marriage of his niece. But there was no such marriage. The cash was actually hawala money.

Abdul Salam, the complainant, had already made such transactions several times involving huge amounts. This time, he had ₹16.2 lakh with him.

The accused, Ismail, had hatched the plan along with others, to create a scene of robbery.

“Ismail and Ashfaq are coordinators, Rifath, Sadiq are hired robbers while Mayyadi is an agent,” Shashi Kumar said.

“The complainant along with his family is absconding. Another six to seven people are yet to be arrested in this case and investigation is in progress. Three cases are registered against Mohammed Rifath, three against Ashfaq and one case against Ismail at different police stations”, he stated.

“The agent and sub-agents were paid ₹8,000 salary for hawala transactions by the kingpin. We have also received information that soon after the incident, two to three accused fled to Dubai,” the Mangaluru police official added.

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