In a major blow to the 13/7 investigations, two mobile phones and a SIM card believed to have been used by terrorists to contact top Indian Mujahideen (IM) operative Yasin Bhatkal, were found to be destroyed.
The Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has recovered these two mobile phones and a SIM card while searching the Ghaziabad residence of hawala operator Kanwarnain Pathreja.
“While these phones were destroyed and broken, it seemed that an attempt was made to destroy the SIM card as well. The phones were found hidden in the residence,” ATS chief Rakesh Maria said.
“These phones were crucial for our investigation as we suspect that these were used to communicate with Yasin Bhatkal at the time of delivery of money for the 13/7 blasts operation and we are probing whether these phones were destroyed by his employees or family members,” said Maria.
Two diaries allegedly belonging to Pathreja with hawala transaction details were also recovered from his home. Two more diaries were recovered at the time of arrest of Pathreja in Delhi.
The ATS will be seeking help from the Enforcement Directorate and the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence to investigate the hawala details. “The ED has the powers to prosecute a person under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). Hawala operations are found in terrorism, murder and organised crimes and all these aspects are being investigated by the ATS and the Crime Branch, hence we had written to the state home ministry to permit both the ATS and Crime Branch to prosecute a person under the PMLA. The proposal is pending with the government,” said another official.
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