Anti-terrorist Squad Raid in Hasanbagh Leads to Discovery of 27 Lakhs in Cash

On Wednesday, the Anti-terrorist Squad (ATS) carried out an operation at three locations within the Hasanbagh area in connection with alleged fraudster Parvez, also known as Pappu Patel. Patel had previously been booked by the city police in a separate case and was out on bail. The raids were conducted based on suspicions that Patel was involved in a counterfeit currency operation. During this operation, the ATS detained Patel and one of his associates, confiscating a significant sum of 27.5 lakhs in cash, along with his mobile phone, laptop, digital video recorder (DVR), and various documents.

In May, the Nandanvan police had filed a case of fraud against Patel and his associates, Parag Mohod and Kanchan Gosavi, following a complaint from Akash Umre, a resident of Lanji, Balaghat, Madhya Pradesh. The accused had enticed Akash with the promise of returning 1.25 crore rupees within two days in exchange for 25 lakhs. Akash had provided 7.25 lakhs to the accused on February 2 through a relative.

However, the accused began to threaten Akash as soon as he requested the promised amount, prompting Akash to file a complaint at the Nandanvan police station after waiting for three months. It was later revealed by the media that this incident was linked to a counterfeit currency operation. Subsequently, the Nandanvan police arrested the accused and conducted an investigation, uncovering many alarming details. Despite this, the police were unable to fully dismantle the operation, and the accused were released on bail, allegedly resuming their activities.

According to sources, the ATS had received information that Pappu might be involved in circulating counterfeit currency through his associates. Over the past few days, the ATS had been closely monitoring Pappu's auto dealership office in Hasanbagh. On Wednesday morning, the ATS team conducted simultaneous raids on Pappu's office, his residence, and the house of his partner, Abdul Wasim. In addition to seizing 27.50 lakhs in cash, they also confiscated other materials. Bank officials were enlisted to verify the authenticity of the currency, which was found to be genuine.

Following these seizures, ATS officers apprehended Pappu and his associate. The ATS is currently conducting a forensic examination of the seized mobile phone and laptop, while the DVR of the auto dealership's CCTV system has also been secured for investigation. The movements of individuals entering and leaving the office are being traced. Sources indicate that Pappu was formerly a small-scale businessman, and he had connections with several dubious individuals in Hasanbagh and Tajbagh.

Suspiciously, there was frequent police presence at his auto dealership office, although this diminished after a fraud case was registered in May. Pappu's associate, Mohod, was known to silence victims by using the name of a former minister to threaten them.

Sources suggest that this racket extended its operations to neighbouring states such as Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Numerous individuals, in addition to the complainant Akash, fell victim to this scheme. When victims threatened to report the fraud to the police, the accused would intimidate them, either by threatening harm or by falsely implicating them in a fabricated case.

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