Srinagar: The National Investigation Agency on Tuesday claimed arrest of three persons from Kashmir and six others from outsides states including two each from Mumbai and New Delhi in connection with a case registered by it on the instructions by the Government of India. The remaining arrested persons include one each are from UP and Nagpur. The NIA also claimed it had seized Rs 36,34,78,500 from the four vehicles they were travelling-in in New Delhi.
The claim came amid opposition claims that the November 8, 2016 decision to spike 1,000 and 500 rupee notes (almost 86 per cent of the currency in circulation) had made no significant impact on curbing militancy and its financing from across the border.
The NIA said on 6 November its team intercepted the several persons at Jai Singh Road near Connaught Place, New Delhi. They were carrying 28 cartons filled with demonetised currency notes of denomination Rs 500 and Rs 1000 in 4 luxury vehicles, it said.
“During the investigation, it had emerged that persons/ entities linked to the separatists and (militants) were still in possession of a significant amount of demonetised currency which they could not deposit, convert during the period earmarked by the government. Surveillance was mounted on such persons/entities. This led to unearthing of a conspiracy wherein a gang of such persons/ entities were making an attempt to convert this demonetised money into valid currency,” the NIA said.
The NIA in a statement said that a total of 7 persons were initially apprehended and brought to NIA headquarters for further questioning. “The demonetised currency notes having face value equivalent to Rs 36,34,78,500 were duly seized and brought to the headquarters. Three other associates of this gang were apprehended later in the evening yesterday and were brought for questioning to the NIA HQ,” it said.
Those arrested have been identified as Pradeep Chauhan (47) of Nangli Razapur, Sarai Kale Khan, New Delhi, Bhagwan Singh (54) of Sainik Farm New Delhi, Vinod Shreedhar Shetty (47) of Shanti Nagar, Mira Road (east), Mumbai, Shahnawaz Mir (45) of Khayyam Chowk Srinagar, Deepak Toprani (60) of Premier Road, Vidya Vihar West, Mumbai, Majid Yousuf Sofi (27) of Al Farooq Colony, Anchidora Anantnag, Ejajul Hassan (38) of Didauli, Amroha UP, Umar Mushtaq Dar (27) of Dangarpura Pulwama and Jaswinder Singh (53) of Hemchandra App, Civil Lines, Nagpur. ”After initial questioning the 9 persons have been arrested today in the J&K () Funding case and they will be produced in the Spl. NIA Court on Wednesday,” the NIA said.
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