Another trader nominated in Rs 45L hawala racket
Amritsar, March 3
The Amritsar (Rural) police have nominated another trader in the hawala racket busted recently in which Rs 45 lakh drug money was seized. He was identified as Pankaj Kumar, a resident of the Lahori Gate area. However, he managed to dodge the police party during raid and was absconding. The police claimed that he would be arrested soon. Pankaj is alleged to be a close aide of a political leader.
His name cropped up during interrogation of Raman Kumar, a grocery trader, who was arrested by the police with Rs 45 lakh drug money. Raman was sent to judicial custody after expiry of the police remand, an official said.
Satinder Singh, SSP, Amritsar (Rural) said the police was holding a detailed probe in the case. He said the racket was well oiled and some influential traders were involved in it.
The police had already written to the Income Tax Department and financial investigating unit for holding a probe into money trail of two hawala rackets busted in the recent past. During probe, the police found a contact number in the pseudo name of Neeraj Bhai of Pakistan. The two traders arrested by the police in the hawala racket used to talk to Pakistan and other foreign-based individuals through virtual numbers.
