CID Raids uncover `1200 crore hawala transactions
Gujarat authorities have unearthed a massive web of alleged hawala transactions exceeding ₹1200 crore following raids on 25 angadia firms across the state on May 9. The probe by the Crime Investigation Department (CID) and Income Tax (I-T) departments also revealed suspicious bank accounts linked to Dubai, raising concerns about potential connections to illegal betting activities during the recent IPL season.
The investigation builds upon a previous case in January 2024, where a ₹1195 crore money laundering scheme was uncovered. Infamous bookie Amit Majithia, a resident of Ahmedabad with alleged ties to Dubai, was identified as the mastermind in that case. A red corner notice was subsequently issued against Majithia in January, leading him to flee to Thailand after a brief stay in Dubai.
The recent raids targeted angadia firms, traditional money transfer services, in Ahmedabad, Rajkot, and Junagadh. While ₹18 crore in cash and 1 kg of gold were seized during the operation, a deeper concern emerged from an angadia firm in Ahmedabad. Authorities discovered over 50 suspicious bank accounts linked to this firm, with transactions exceeding a staggering ₹1200 crore.
The investigation began three months prior to the raids. Initial inquiries in January focused on connections between cricket betting, online gaming, and 35 dummy accounts linked to Hemant Trading, Shivam Trading, and an individual named Khanaji. The probe revealed a total transfer of ₹1,195 crore through these accounts between June 2021 and January 2024.
Following these discoveries, authorities registered a complaint against several individuals allegedly involved in the operation. These include Om Prakash Tiwari (New Delhi), Bhavesh Sanchaniya and Ashwi Sanchaniya (Junagadh), Dhananjay Patel (Balasinor), Vicky, and Bhavesh Joshi (Banaskantha).
The ongoing investigation highlights the continued presence of illegal hawala networks and their potential links to criminal activities like betting.