The city police seized Rs. 99.79 lakh, suspected to be belonging to a ‘hawala’ racket, and arrested a man here on Tuesday night.
His name was given as Mahantesh Yellappa Gondi, a resident of Kasturba Nagar of Sirsi in Uttara Kannada district. A case has been registered at the suburban police station.
Hubballi-Dharwad Commissioner of Police Pandurang H. Rane told The Hindu that Shekappa Bijali and Basavaraj Patil attached to the Hubballi East Traffic Police Station seized the money from Gondi at a bus-stop near Chennamma Circle.
Gondi was carrying the money in an autorickshaw and he had alighted at the bus-stop. The police personnel questioned him after they grew suspicious about his actions and unearthed the money. Gondi was unable to provide documents to prove the source of the money in his possession and he was taken into custody, Mr. Rane said. Mr. Rane did not rule out the possibility of the money belonging to a ‘hawala’ racket operating in the city. “A man carrying such a huge amount leads to the suspicion that he may be involved in the ‘hawala’ racket. But it is yet to be established. Investigation is on to trace the source of the money. Even the Department of Income Tax has been informed about it. Further inquiry may reveal more details,” Mr. Rane added.
Income Tax Department has
been informed
about the case,
say police
