The Government Railway Police (GRP), Secunderabad, working with the Railway Protection Force (RPF), confiscated Rs 1,22,70,000 in suspected hawala money from a passenger traveling from Mumbai to Secunderabad on the Devagiri Express. The individual involved, identified as Vijay Ambadas Gupta, 40, was apprehended between Bollaram and Malkajgiri railway stations during a joint inspection on May 26.
Vijay Ambadas Gupta disclosed that he had received the cash from a person named “Santosh Seth” of “Kantha Jewellery” in Mumbai and was instructed to deliver it to Secunderabad to someone named “Banti” at Monda Market. The seized money, suspected to be part of hawala transactions related to the jewelry trade, amounted to Rs 1,22,70,000. However, Gupta could not provide valid documents or a satisfactory explanation regarding the source or intended use of the funds.
The accused, promised Rs 5,000 for transporting the cash, was unable to justify his possession of the money. Following this, his confession was recorded in the presence of mediators, and his mobile phone, identity papers, and train ticket were confiscated for further inquiry. The operation was conducted under the leadership of various officials from GRP Secunderabad and RPF, with IGP Railway and Road Safety K. Ramesh Naidu commending their efforts and announcing suitable rewards for the teams involved.
