Unaccounted cash seized by RPF is not Hawala; related to sale of gold bars

Team Udayavani, Nov 4, 2018, 12:52 PM IST

Udupi: It has been ascertained Prima Facie that the Rs 1.65 crore seized by the Railway police personnel (RPF ) of the city, from the passengers travelling on Netravati Express train from Mumbai to Ernakulam on Friday, November 2 does not belong to Hawala transaction.

It is understood that the seized amount was earned from the sale of gold bars by a certain individual by the name Jaswant Singh.

Apparently, Jaswant Singh is a native of Rajasthan, is residing in Kannur of Kerala state since the past 13 years. He has a business dealing with home appliances and cloth. However, since five years he was involved in the sale of gold bars also. Jaswant used to sell gold bars ato places like Hubballi and Belagavi. Jaswant’s business partner, who was residing in Belagavi used to hand over the proceeds from the sale of gold bars to Jaswant.

But, on Friday, November 2, Jaswant’s business partner had asked Jaswant to take the money from him. Hence, Jaswant had sent a person identified as Prakash and another person identified as Ganesh as sent by Jaswant’s business partner from Belagavi. Accordingly, Ganesh and Prakash were carrying the money in the train.

Interrogation

Income Tax officials interrogated the three people caught transporting the unaccounted cash from the early morning of Friday, November 2 to the next day early morning in the RPF office of Indrali railway station. The seized money amounts to Rs 1,64,96,500 and could be black money. Apparently, the IT officials have also searched the house of Jaswant at Kozhikode.

Though Jaswant is an IT payer, the officials are investigating for the probability of disproportionate assets, possessing unaccounted money and transportation of money without proper documentation.

Train journey of the money began from Kumta

The business partner of Mr Singh had brought the money from Belgavi to Kumta via car. Then Ganesh carried the two bags with cash on to the train from Kumta. Based on Prior information, Prakash had boarded the train at Bhatkal. Thus, the individuals representing both the parties met on the train and the train journey of the unaccounted money along with its two custodians began from Kumta towards Kannur.

However, as the Ticket Checker (TC) got suspicious of the two bags, the duo were caught. The TC informed the matter to Santhosh Gaonkar, sub-inspector of RPF who took timely action.

It has come to light that the business partner of Jaswant who had brought the money from Belagavi to Kumta is absconding.

Seized cash not related to the election

With the seizure of such a huge amount in cash, the election officers had also arrived at the spot as soon as they got the news. However, it is almost clear now that this money is earned from the sale of gold and there is no connection to the on-going election.