Advocate Rizwan made five Punjab trips to move funds for terror network: SIT

Advocate Rizwan, a resident of Nuh district who was arrested on November 24 for allegedly spying for Pakistan’s ISI and facilitating terror funding, is learnt to have travelled to Punjab five times in the past three months to carry out suspected financial transactions linked to terrorism. Investigators have found that he allegedly routed around Rs 45 lakh through hawala operators engaged in terror funding.

The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of Nuh police had initially detained Rizwan’s friend, Musharraf, for questioning but later released him. The SIT then arrested Ajay Arora, a resident of Malaysian Patti in Jalandhar, who is accused of sending money to Rizwan through hawala channels and assisting in the transactions. Following Arora’s arrest, the SIT picked up three more suspects from Amritsar — Sandeep Singh, Amandeep and Jaskaran — who are currently under eight days’ police remand. Officials indicated that more arrests are likely.

The SIT is reportedly keeping the investigation tightly guarded, even presenting the accused in court late at night to avoid media attention. At the Punjab National Bank branch in Tauru, officials confirmed that Rizwan holds an account but said they were directed not to share any details publicly. “We are providing the police with the information they are seeking regarding Rizwan's bank account. Senior police officers have visited the bank several times. The savings account has a limit of only Rs 10 to Rs 12 lakh and that limit cannot be exceeded,” said SK Meena, branch manager of PNB Tauru, while refusing to disclose further information.

During interrogation, Rizwan is said to have divulged several details, including that he had taken fellow lawyer Musharraf, from Bainsi village, along on some trips, although Musharraf was reportedly unaware of the purpose of the repeated visits. “Consequently, the investigation team released him after questioning,” an SIT official said.

According to police sources, the terror funding network appears to have links with Pathankot, with handlers in other Punjab cities allegedly involved in laundering hawala funds. They believe that over Rs 1 crore was moved in a short span, a substantial portion of which was intended to bolster terror infrastructure in the state.

A senior police officer said that suspicious activities related to terrorism are being monitored closely. “The individuals suspected or involved in such activities are being identified and their backgrounds are being thoroughly investigated,” he said. “The SIT team is investigating the bank details, transactions, and even the mobile locations of the suspects. Their daily activities are also being closely monitored. The matter is related to the security of the country, an in-depth investigation will be conducted.”