Delhi Police suspended for funding terror activities

New Delhi: Delhi Police on Wednesday suspended assistant sub-inspector (ASI) Bhagwan Singh who was held along with six people after the NIA seized demonetised currency worth Rs 36 crore from them in an alleged case of terror funding.

The agency booked the six, along with three others, in its case against Hurriyat leaders. On Wednesday, a special court sent all the nine accused to NIA custody till November 21. “Mr Singh is the key accused in the case and has a vital role in movement of money,” an NIA officer said.

According to the NIA, during questioning of the accused, the agency learnt that some people associated with top separatists were hoarding demonetised currency. 

“Surveillance was mounted on such persons/ entities. This led to unearthing of a conspiracy wherein a gang of such persons/ entities were attempting to convert the old currency notes into valid currency,” an NIA spokesperson said.

The agency said on Monday, an NIA team intercepted the gang members at Jai Singh Road near Connaught Place and found them carrying 28 cartons filled with demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. 

Over the past two days, the NIA has seized Rs  36,34,78,500 in demonetised currency. Initially, the agency apprehended seven people with the currency, but one was let off after questioning. Three others were arrested on Tuesday evening.

Those arrested have been identified as Delhi residents Pradeep Chauhan, Bhagwan Singh and Vinod Shreedhar Shetty, Deepak Toprani of Mumbai, Ejajul Hassan of Amroha, Jaswinder Singh of Nagpur, and Jammu and Kashmir residents Umar Mushtaq Dar (Pulwama), Shahnawaz Mir (Srinagar) and Majid Yousuf Sofi (Anantnag). The agency has also seized four cars — BMW X3, Creta SX, Ford EcoSport Titanium and BMW X1.