BHEL staffer held with hawala money

The Amritsar (Rural) police have seized Rs 91 lakh hawala money from Gurpal Singh of Goindwal Sahib in Tarn Taran. It also seized $5,000, 34 dirhams and a currency counting machine from Gurpal, who works with Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL).

Amritsar (Rural) SSP Maninder Singh said the seizure was made following an investigation into the seizure of Rs 33 lakh hawala money three days ago. The police had also seized 500 gm heroin, 9 mm Glock pistol and two magazines from three drug peddlers at that time. They were identified as Ranjit Singh, alias Rana, Gurdev Singh, alias Gedi, and Shailendra Singh, alias Selu.

After Gurpal’s name cropped up during the investigation, he was intercepted and seizure made. He could not give satisfactory answers to police queries following which he was arrested. A raid was conducted at his house where the police seized cash.

“Gurpal played a key role in managing financial operations of the syndicate,” said the SSP while adding that the police were further tracing the financial trail to expose and dismantle the entire ecosystem supporting drug trafficking and organised crime.