Lawyer's murder: Killers paid through hawala channels

MANGALORE: Ongoing investigations into the murder of lawyer Naushad Khasimji has revealed the use of hawala towards payment to those who killed him here on April 9. Police following a trail given by Dinesh, who told them that he had received Rs 5 lakh for killing Naushad, went to Bangalore and New Delhi and nabbed three persons who played a role in channelising money through the hawala route.
SP A S Rao told reporters here on Friday, that the police arrested Rakesh Patel, resident of Mansa taluk, Gandhinagar, Gujarat, presently residing at Okalipuram in Bangalore. Rakesh, as per instructions from Rahul of Chandni Chowk in New Delhi arranged Rs 5 lakh from Sulaiman Khwaja of Chickpet, Bangalore, for a trade transaction in New Delhi and Rs 3.69 lakh from Ganapathi of Bangalore for a local granite transaction.
Of this amount, Rakesh paid Rs 5 lakh to a certain Ramesh for a commission of Rs 50 for every lakh paid. The police team, which traced Rahul in New Delhi then laid their hands on Ravi Shukwani, another hawala operator. Rahul had arranged for the money based on instructions given by Ravi, SP said. This trail then led the police to Indore where they narrowly failed to nab Mukesh, who had instructed Ravi to make the payment.
The team brought all the three accused to Mangalore where they were duly arrested for running a hawala racket and channelising money for businessmen without proper bills. SP said investigations have revealed connections of those arrested with underworld don Ravi Poojary, who ordered the slaying of Naushad. SP said further investigations are on to trace people involved in helping Ravi Poojary run the hawala racket in India.