Police investigation into ‘robbery’ reveals active hawala network in Kochi

The police had doubts about the genuineness of the complaint from the beginning. Confirming their doubts, the probe revealed that it was indeed a hawala money heist.
Image used for representative purposes only.
Image used for representative purposes only.
Updated on
2 min read

KOCHI: A police probe into a theft of Rs 80 lakh has shed light on an active hawala network in Kochi. A special team has been constituted under Ernakulam Central Assistant Commissioner of Police C Jayakumar to unearth the entire network.

The theft occurred on September 25, when four persons, who arrived on two motorcycles wearing masks and helmets, stole Rs 80 lakh kept inside a bag and a cover at the rear passenger side of a parked car near the LIC office at Manapattiparambu in Kaloor.

The money was brought by an Edappally native to be handed over to a person named Sahad, who runs a mobile phone business in UAE. After two days of the incident, Sahad approached the police with a complaint.

The police had doubts about the genuineness of the complaint from the beginning. Confirming their doubts, the probe revealed that it was indeed a hawala money heist.

“When we checked the CCTV cameras in the area, we could confirm that such a theft had happened. There are CCTV visuals of four persons on two bikes in the Manapattiparambu area. It is also confirmed that Sahad and his friend had reached the place to collect the money,” a police officer said.

However, what surprised the police was that the person who was to deliver the money to Sahad is yet to approach the police for his “lost money”. Police suspect that there was more than Rs 80 lakh inside the car.

“Interestingly, the person who lost the money has not lodged a complaint. Instead, Sahad who was to receive the money, was the one who came up with the complaint. Our probe indicates the involvement of a hawala network active in Kochi. A special team has been constituted under ACP to probe the incident and bust the entire network,” the officer said.

Police are also collecting information about the person who sent money to Sahad through the hawala channel.

“It was a planned heist as the accused persons knew that money would be handed over to Sahad at Manapattiparambu. Sahad claims that money was sent by his friend in UAE. But we have to verify the amount sent through the hawala channel,” he said.

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