Hawala racket: Second complaint lodged

SURAT: The crime branch registered the second complaint in connection with the Rs 700 crore hawala racket unearthed by the enforcement directorate (ED) last month.
In the fresh compliant, police booked two diamond importers, who were running private limited companies through which they sent Rs 28.88 crore to Hong Kong-based companies.
Police booked diamond importer companies Agni Gems Pvt Ltd of Haripura in Surat and Harmony Diamonds Pvt Ltd of Dreamland Buildings, New Queen's House in Mumbai.Directors of the two companies Pankaj Jain, resident of Haripura in Surat and Dipak Patil, resident of Ratnagiri in Maharashtra were also named in the complaint. The complaint was lodged by Ratanlal Regar, senior branch head of ICICI Bank branch at Platinum Plaza, Athwalines.
Police booked the case against under Indian Panel Code (IPC) sections of cheating and forgery. The accused allegedly transferred Rs 104 crore through the company's current bank account in ICICI Bank's branch, police informed.
In the fresh case, the money was sent to Golden King Limited, Nice Able Trading Limited and Sharp Crown Limited, all based in Hong Kong. The money was transferred using five fake bills of entry during January to March 2014. Police investigation revealed that the accused produced fake bills of diamond purchases and made payments against them. The accused got fake stamps and signatures of government officers on the documents.
The enforcement directorate, which had unearthed the Rs 700 crore hawala racket in March 2014, had asked the city police to book the two key accused Afroz Fatta and Madan Lal Jain for forgery and cheating. However, Surat police asked ED officers to become complainant in the case. ED did not register complaint against the accused after which the bank officers became complainant in the case.
On Friday, a complaint of Rs 104 crore transferred to Hong Kong and Dubai through bank account in ICICI bank was registered in crime branch against Ms R A Distributors Pvt Ltd of Mahidharpura in Surat. Directors of the company, Shailesh Patel, resident of second floor, 9/19 B, Dr Vegas Street, Kavel Cross Lane, Mumbai and Aniket Ambekar, 872, GS Subedar Ramji, Ambedkar Nagar, A G Khan Road, Worli, Mumbai were also booked by police.
Police are yet to arrest or question the accused in both the complaints. "We are yet to make any arrests or we have not questioned the accused in the two cases. We are investigating the case," said Rakesh Asthana, city police commissioner.