War on black money: Delhi Police, I-T Dept conduct raids after sting ops expose

Delhi Police and IT department on Thursday conducted raids at various places in Delhi after news channels aired sting operations showing agents taking black money in the form of demonetized notes and promising to exchange them for valid currency after charging a commission.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting sent CDs of the broadcast to Delhi Police on Wednesday for taking appropriate action in the matter, following which Crime Branch, in association with Directorate of Investigations IT department, conducted raids at several places, said Ravindra Yadav, joint commissioner of police (Crime). The sting operation had also shown managers of popular Pakistani singers and actors demanding a part of the money, that their clients were supposed to be paid for performances or appearances in functions, in cash and the rest to be deposited in the artistes' bank accounts.

"Television news channels had carried out sting operations following demonetization of higher denomination notes," Yadav said. "These sting operations showed how unscrupulous persons are involved in exchange of demonetized notes of black money in different sectors like gold jewellery, real estate, etc and are promising conversion into legal money by charging some commission," he said. Raids were conducted at locations in Chandni Chowk, Paharganj, Connaught Place, Hauz Khas and Shakarpur, he added.

The office of artiste managers Manu Kohli and Rakesh Gupta, who also handle artistes from Pakistan including popular Pakistani singer Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, were among those raided, police said. "Appropriate legal action action will be taken in consultation with the IT department," Yadav added.