Hyderabad, May 28: Railway police seized Rs 1.22 crore suspected hawala money from a passenger travelling from Mumbai to Secunderabad on the Devagiri Express.
Officials from the Government Railway Police and Railway Protection Force intercepted the passenger during a joint inspection conducted between Bollaram and Malkajgiri railway stations on Wednesday afternoon.
Hawala Cash Linked to Jewellery Business
Police identified the accused as Vijay Ambadas Gupta, a 40 year old resident of Amaravati district in Maharashtra. Officials said personnel noticed him carrying a bag under suspicious circumstances and detained him for questioning.
During interrogation, the accused reportedly told police that he received Rs 1,22,70,000 from a person identified as Santosh Seth, who allegedly runs a jewellery business in Mumbai.
According to investigators, Gupta was instructed to transport the cash to Secunderabad and hand it over to another person identified as Banti, who is reportedly associated with a jewellery shop in Monda Market.
Police said the accused was promised Rs 5,000 for transporting the money from Mumbai to Hyderabad.
However, officials stated that Gupta failed to produce valid documents or provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the source and purpose of the cash. Therefore, investigators suspect the money is linked to hawala transactions connected to the jewellery business.
Police seized the cash along with the accused’s mobile phone, identity documents, and railway journey ticket. Further investigation into the suspected hawala network is currently underway.
The seizure has once again highlighted concerns over illegal cash movement through railway routes between major cities.
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