In a significant breakthrough, Gurgaon police have made an eighth arrest in a sprawling investigation that uncovers a sinister nexus between alleged Pakistani espionage activities and an extensive drug supply network operating with Indian operatives. The latest suspect, Sandeep, was apprehended from Sangrur in Punjab by a joint team comprising the Nuh police and the Ambala special task force, led by DSP Abhimanyu Lohan.
The Money Trail Leads to Another Arrest
Sandeep came onto the police radar after investigators discovered that Nuh-based lawyer Rizwan, a key accused arrested earlier in the case, had transferred Rs 50,000 to him. Authorities assert that this money constitutes proceeds from narcotics sales. A senior police officer revealed that Sandeep was in direct contact with Pakistan-based drug traffickers and maintained close links with Rizwan.
This is not Sandeep's first brush with the law. He was previously booked in three separate cases under the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS). His family's involvement appears deep-rooted, with his brother facing two NDPS cases and his mother implicated in a staggering six NDPS cases, according to police sources.
Espionage, Hawala, and Narcotics: A Toxic Mix
The case first came to light on November 25, when constable Rinku at the Sadar Tauru police station received critical intelligence. The information indicated that lawyer Rizwan was receiving hawala money from operatives linked to Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI). These funds were allegedly earmarked for espionage activities and narco-smuggling operations.
Subsequent scrutiny of Rizwan's Punjab National Bank account revealed unusually large transactions, bolstering the suspicions. Consequently, a formal case was registered against him at the Sadar Tauru police station on the same day. The charges were severe: Section 113 (punishment for terrorist acts) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 17 (punishment for raising funds for a terrorist act) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
Investigators have pieced together a network where money from drug trafficking was funneled through hawala channels involving foreign nationals.
Expanding the Net: Arrests Across Punjab
Following Rizwan's arrest on November 26, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) intensified its probe. This led to the apprehension of four of his associates in Punjab. The SIT found that Rizwan had allegedly transferred illicit money into their bank accounts. Among those arrested was Ajay Arora, a sweet shop owner from Jalandhar, who is accused of managing these financial transactions.
During interrogation, Rizwan reportedly guided the SIT to multiple locations across Punjab, including sites in Amritsar, various points on the Jalandhar-Attari Road bypass, and Shahkot. He confessed to receiving cash deliveries in multiple instalments at these spots, painting a picture of a well-organized funding mechanism.
The arrest of Sandeep marks the eighth suspect taken into custody, underscoring the scale and complexity of this inter-state network that bridges espionage and narcotics, with alleged connections reaching across the border.
