MP hawala money loot case: Deputy SP and three others arrested

Seoni (MP), Nov 18 (PTI) The SIT, investigating the Rs 2.96 crore Hawala money loot case, on Tuesday arrested a Deputy Superintendent of Police of Balaghat Hawk Force, and three others, including a relative of the main accused, for alleged criminal conspiracy, a senior officer said.

The number of the arrested accused has increased to 15, including 11 police personnel who are already in jail, SIT In-charge and Jabalpur Crime Branch Additional Superintendent of Police Jitendra Singh told PTI.

The four persons arrested on Tuesday are identified as DSP (Deputy SP) Pankaj Mishra, Jabalpur crime branch constable Pramod Soni, Panju Giri Goswami, and Virendra Dixit, who is the brother-in-law of Sub-Divisional Office of Police Pooja Pandey, the main accused in the Hawala scandal.

Goswami is believed to be a prominent Hawala operator from Jabalpur whose network extended to Katni. Goswami had reportedly passed on information about the Hawala money being transported to authorities, police said.

The four accused were remanded in police custody for two days on Tuesday.

SDOP Pandey, sub-inspector Arpit Bhairam, and nine other police personnel are in judicial custody until November 26.

SIT in-charge Singh said Pankaj Mishra's number was found registered under the name Pankaj Sir on SDOP Pandey's mobile phone.

Pandey and 10 others on patrol and checking duty at Siladehi bypass of national highway number 44 in Seoni on the night of October 8-9 are accused of intercepting a car travelling from Katni to Nagpur in neighbouring Maharashtra with Rs 2.96 crore in hawala money.

Instead of registering a case, the 11 decided to divide the money among themselves after allowing the car occupants to proceed further, as per the police. The alleged hawala operator was also dissuaded from registering a case.

Later, a deal was struck with Jalna-based hawala operator Sohan Parmar, where he would keep Rs 1.45 crore and return the remaining Rs 1.51 crore.

Pandey and ten other police personnel were suspended, and a case was registered on October 14 at the Lakhanwada police station under serious charges, including robbery, kidnapping, and criminal conspiracy.

Another FIR was registered against Sohan Parmar and others in connection with the Hawala money laundering case. Police recovered Rs 2.70 crore so far.

The Jabalpur Crime Branch and the Special Investigation Team (SIT) are investigating both cases, the sources added. PTI COR MAS NSK