Govt officials using caterer for 'hawala' transactions

New Delhi: The CBI has come across evidence showing government officials were allegedly transferring money abroad using the illicit “hawala” channel during its searches at the premises of a caterer at Palika Services Officers Institute (PSOI) arrested by the agency.

During searches on Thursday, the agency recovered 20 high-end Rolex watches, Rs 80 lakh cash and Rs 1.6 crore worth jewellery from a cupboard in the office of caterer Rakesh Tiwari, who runs a canteen at PSOI, Chankyapuri, a known waterhole for government officers, sources said, adding Rs 2.86 crore was recovered on Wednesday.

The agency has also arrested Neeraj Kochar, owner of Viraj Profiles, who was allegedly using services of Tiwari for influencing CBI officers probing a corruption case against an Indian Revenue Officer in which Kochar is also an accused, sources said. The agency sleuths on Thursday raided the offices of the caterer.