Pune Gangland: Jeweller Implicated in Pune Blasts Probe for Alleged Hawala Fund Transfer

By India Crime Correspondent

PUNE, January 12, 2013

• Hidden Identity Exposed: Pune-based Jeweller’s Connection to Serial Bomb Blasts Investigation
• Unidentified Jeweller Allegedly Transferred Rs 4 Lakh on LeT Operative’s Orders
• Anti-Terrorism Squad Uncovers Hawala Transaction Linked to August 1 Bomb Blasts

An unnamed jeweller based in Pune has emerged as a central figure in the investigation concerning the series of bomb explosions that rattled Jangli Maharaj Road in Pune on August 1.

The jeweller’s identity remains undisclosed as authorities delve into the aftermath of the incident. According to findings from the anti-terrorism squad (ATS), this jeweller delivered Rs 4 lakh to the apprehended suspects at the behest of a LeT operative operating from Dubai.

This transaction was facilitated through hawala, an informal method of fund transfer.

ATS investigators are currently scrutinizing whether the route of these funds passed through Dubai with the assistance of an associate of fugitive criminal Dawood Ibrahim, in a chain allegedly linked to Indian Mujaheedin (IM) founder member Riyaz Bhatkal.

ATS Continues Inquiry Into Jeweller’s Involvement

The jeweller in question remains subject to ongoing interrogation as ATS chief Rakesh Maria refrains from offering comments on the matter. Sources indicate that authorities are consulting legal opinions on the potential arrest of the jeweller.

A senior police officer emphasized the significance of appropriate action, stating, “Failing to initiate any action against him could convey inappropriate signals.”

Delhi Jeweller’s Arrest in Relation to Mumbai Blasts

It’s worth noting that a similar case involving a jeweller came to light in the past. In the prior year, Kanwar Nain Pathrija, a jeweller from Delhi, faced arrest on allegations of arranging funds associated with the 13/7 Mumbai bomb blasts.

Kanwar Nain Pathrija, like the present case’s jeweller, also had a role as a hawala agent.

Pune Blasts Linked to Indian Mujaheedin (IM)

The series of bomb blasts in Pune on August 1, attributed to the Indian Mujaheedin (IM), resulted in one individual sustaining injuries.

As investigations progress, four individuals were apprehended by the Delhi police, and three more—Sayyed Arif alias Kashif Biyabani, Munib Iqbal Memon, and Farooq Bagwan—were taken into custody by the ATS on suspicion of their involvement in the blasts.

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