A member of the Guru Satam gang has revealed how Mumbai underworld has shifted its 'hawala' operations to Hong Kong.
The Mumbai underworld for years used Gulf nations to send and receive money through 'hawala' to keep their illegal businesses running. However, the Mumbai police has now discovered that Hong Kong is now favourite destination for criminal gangs of Dawood Ibrahim, Chhota Rajan, Ravi Pujari, Guru Satam and others.
A member of the Guru Satam gang who allegedly ran 'hawala' business in Hong Kong was arrested by the Mumbai police's Crime Branch from Kerala on Wednesday. Krishnakumar Balakrishnan Nair alias Kevin, 46, revealed that most underworld dons have now moved their 'hawala' operations to China.
Hong Kong, a free port city, where the trade policy is very liberal, has come in handy for these dons as Gulf nations' cooperation with the Indian government is increasing. Unlike other countries, which have friendly relations with India, China's adversarial relationship with New Delhi has also helped them operate more openly.
Before this, Dubai and Singapore were said to be favourite 'hawala' destinations for the underworld.
Who is Kevin?
These important revelations were made by Kevin who is a key aide of gangster Guru Satam. He was arrested by the Anti Extortion Cell of the Mumbai Crime Branch from Thiruvananthapuram, his hometown on Wednesday, an official said
Kevin had arrived in Thiruvananthapuram Sunday (January 6) from Hong Kong to meet his family, he said. According to police, Kevin had left India in 1994 to settle in Hong Kong where he took its citizenship.
He was wanted in an extortion case where Amol Vichare, Bharat Solanki, Rajesh Ambre, Bipin Dhotre and Dipak Lodhiahad already been arrested, the official said. All five were members of the Guru Satam gang, the police official added. They had allegedly threatened a builder who has construction projects in Parel in Central Mumbai, asking him to cough up 'protection money', he said.
During their interrogation, Kevin's role came to light. It was Kevin who allegedly sent, through 'hawala', the proceeds of extortion to Guru Satam who is believed to be living overseas.
After finding out that Kevin was living in Hong Kong, a look-out notice had been issued against him, the official said.
Following a tip-off that Kevin was visiting his hometown using a different passport, a Crime Branch team went to Kerala and nabbed him, he said.
A special court for the Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) sent him in police custody till January 16, the official said, adding that further probe was underway.
(With PTI inputs)
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