Hawala racket busted: Two held, Rs 1.2 cr cash, 1.5 kg gold seized

Kasargod: Sleuths of the Excise and Customs department on Monday, October 1 busted a hawala racket with the arrest of two persons here and confiscated Rs 1.2 crore in cash and gold weighing 1.5 kg from their possession.

Bashir, 60, a resident of Talengere and Ramachandra Patil, 27, a resident of Sangli in Maharashtra are the arrested persons.

Based on reliable tip-off Excise and Customs officials in Kasargod and Kannur had maintained a vigil on a car and intercepted it when it was headed towards Kasargod. Upon checking they found Rs 1.2 crore cash concealed within the car seat and arrested car driver Basheer. During the questioning, Basheer claimed to be unaware of the hidden cash and revealed that a person named Ravi in Mangaluru had asked him to take the car to Kasargod. 

As per the information divulged by Basheer, the officials later raided a rented house located at Kote road, Kasargod and seized 1.5 kg gold and arrested another person Ramachandra Patil who was present at the house.

Investigations into the case will be extended to Mumbai as it is believed that a gang operating from there is behind the hawala racket and further information can be ascertained upon the arrest of the man who sent the money. Meanwhile, it is gathered that Ravi has absconded to Mumbai.