ED Raids Several Locations In Maharashtra Over Alleged Hawala Scam; BJP Claims Vote Jihad

Last Updated:November 14, 2024, 14:15 IST

The key accused in this case is Siraj Ahmed Harun Meman (43), a resident of Gandhi Market, Malegaon, who runs a Tea and Cold Drink Agency.

BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has alleged of vote jihad funding in Malegaon, claiming that Rs 125 crore was deposited into various bank accounts through hawala transactions (Representative image)

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has conducted massive searches in Maharashtra in a case related to hawala transactions. At least 13 premises were raided in Nashik, Surat, Ahmedabad, Malegaon and Mumbai.

The key accused in this case is Siraj Ahmed Harun Meman (43), a resident of Gandhi Market, Malegaon, who runs a Tea and Cold Drink Agency.

Details of the Case

Siraj Ahmed, through his business connections, managed to involve several individuals in a fraudulent scheme under the pretence of opening bank accounts for a new business venture related to selling corn. The complainant, Jayesh Lotan Misal (22), a resident of Kaulane and a centering worker, has stated that Siraj approached his brother, Ganesh Misal, who used to supply goods to Siraj’s agency. Siraj proposed opening multiple bank accounts to facilitate financial transactions related to his alleged corn business, promising job opportunities to the participants in Malegaon’s APMC market.

Between September 23 and October 3, 2024, Siraj took personal documents like PAN cards, Aadhar cards, and SIM cards from Ganesh, Jayesh, and ten other individuals, including Pratik Jadhav, Pawan Jadhav, Manoj Misal, Dhanraj Bacchav, Rahul Kale, Rajendra Bind, Diwakar Ghumre, Bhavesh Ghumre, Lalit More, and Dattatray Ushire. These individuals, along with two additional people, Md Sajid (45) and Moin Khan (40), had their bank accounts opened in the Nashik Merchant Cooperative Bank (NaMCo Bank).

The accounts were opened under false pretences, with Siraj obtaining signatures on various forms, including those for bank account openings, fixed deposits (FD), and loans. He promised job opportunities in exchange for their participation in the process. In total, 14 accounts were opened, along with two additional accounts for his associates, which were linked to businesses—Gangasagar Enterprises and Dhanraj Agro.

Suspicious Transactions and Financial Movements

A thorough review of the bank statements from NaMCo Bank revealed a disturbing pattern of transactions. From the time the accounts were opened until October 21, 2024, over 2200 credit transactions occurred across 153 bank branches spanning various states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Gujarat, Orissa, West Bengal, and Maharashtra. These transactions involved a total credit of approximately rs112 crore.

On the debit side, 315 transactions were noted, with a total of nearly 111 crore INR being debited from these accounts. Notably, Siraj Ahmed withdrew 14 crore INR through cheques from the Gangasagar Enterprises and Dhanraj Agro accounts between October 4 and 15, 2024. Of this amount, 9.59 crore INR was allegedly sent to Mumbai via hawala channels, while the remaining funds are still untraced.

Additionally, some of the transactions raised further suspicions of tax evasion. A significant portion, approximately 45 crore INR, was transferred to Pragati Traders and MK Marketing accounts at Axis Bank in Ahmedabad, further complicating the financial trail.

Investigation and Evidence Collection

The investigation team, which included the police, Economic Offenses Wing (EOW), the Local Crime Branch (LCB), and the Income Tax Department, is working collaboratively to piece together the intricate details of this case. As of now, the team has managed to freeze the bank accounts of five individuals linked to the fraud at Bank of Maharashtra, based on the KYC details. Additionally, Axis Bank accounts have been frozen, but further investigation is ongoing to collect KYC details and bank statements.

Despite extensive searches, Siraj Ahmed has been missing since November 6, 2024. Efforts are underway to locate him using Call Data Records (CDRs), and a Look-Out Circular (LOC) has been issued. Authorities are hopeful of apprehending him soon.

On the other hand, BJP leader Kirit Somaiya has alleged of vote jihad funding in Malegaon, claiming that Rs 125 crore was deposited into various bank accounts through hawala transactions. According to Somaiya, this money was meant to influence voters in the upcoming elections.

Modus Operandi

Somaiya alleged that Siraj Ahmed and Moin Khan from Malegaon opened bank accounts in the names of poor people and deposited Rs 125 crore within four days. The money was then transferred to 37 accounts and withdrawn immediately [1).

Somaiya has demanded a thorough investigation into the matter and has written to the Election Commission, Enforcement Directorate, Central Bureau of Investigation, Central Board of Direct Taxes, and Reserve Bank of India. He suspects that the funds came from abroad, using the accounts of 17 poor people from Malegaon.

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