Ex-Minister had several contacts in Pak
Consignments delivered earlier too
Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, Apr 12: Director General of Police (DGP) Dilbag Singh today handed over sensational case of hawala racket involving former Minister Jatinder Singh alias Babu Singh to the State Investigation Agency (SIA) as preliminary investigations by Jammu Police revealed that he had large number of contacts in Pakistan.
Moreover, Babu Singh is not revealing anything significant to police by taking excuse of pain and making other issues. He has become hard nut to crack.
Police sources confirmed to the Excelsior that the First Information Report (FIR) lodged against Babu Singh and other persons in connection with recovery of Rs 6.9 lakh hawala money has been handed over to the SIA by the Competent Authority today. The FIR will be formally transferred to the SIA tomorrow which will take over the case.
“We have traced large number of contacts of Babu Singh in Pakistan. He has saved mobile numbers of some of the contacts in his phone also. This is unprecedented. A former Minister and politician is having so much of unknown contacts in Pakistan,” a senior officer said, adding this clearly indicates that Babu Singh was deeply involved in hawala racket.
Asserting that a politician can have political contacts etc in Pakistan, the police sources, however, said that all his contacts in the neighbouring country are unknown and many of them have switched off their mobile telephones after the arrest of Babu Singh.
“This is clear sign of nexus between Babu Singh and Pakistani handlers,” sources said.
They added that this was not the first hawala consignment meant for Babu Singh which was seized by the police and there were enough indications that he had already received some consignments sent from across the border.
However, they said, Babu Singh is not ready to disclose anything to police. Even senior police officers quizzed him.
“Babu Singh is taking excuses of pain and sitting problems,” they pointed out but said he is alright and has been examined medically.
Babu Singh was arrested on April 9 along Jammu-Punjab border in Kathua district after evading arrest for nearly 10 days.
Four persons have been arrested so far in connection with hawala racket. More arrests were expected on the basis of disclosures of arrested persons after their questioning.
Arrested persons have been identified as Mohammad Shareef Shah, 64, a resident of Syedpora Larnoo in Kokernag area of Anantnag district in South Kashmir, Gurdev Singh and Mohammad Sharief Sartaj of Jammu and Sidhant Sharma of Kathua.
The case was cracked after police arrested Shareef Shah from Gandhi Nagar area and recovered Rs 6.9 lakh from his possession.
Shah was subjected to questioning during which he disclosed that he was tasked by Jatinder Singh alias Babu Singh of Kathua, presently Chairman of Nature Mankind Friendly Global Party, to collect money from one Omer at Srinagar.
After receiving cash, Shareef came to Jammu and was caught by the police.
Shareef further revealed names of his local and foreign associates including Javed and Khatib, residents of Pakistan occupied Jammu Kashmir (PoJK) and Farooq Khan of Toronto, Canada.
The hawala network was reported to have originated from Pakistan, PoJK and Canada, sources said but added that further links of foreign involvement will be known during investigations.
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