Haryana lawyer arrested for spying for Pakistan's ISI visited Punjab to get money for terror funding

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A resident of Nuh district, who was arrested in November on charges of spying for the Pakistani intelligence agency ISI, allegedly visited Punjab 5 times in the last three months to transact money for terror funding, a senior investigating officer said on Tuesday.

The accused, identified as Rizwan, who is an advocate by profession, allegedly conducted a transaction of approximately Rs 45 lakhs with hawala traders involved in terrorist funding, the officer added.

This terror funding network is believed to have links to Pathankot, with handlers operating in various cities across Punjab, working to launder funds received through hawala. It is said that hawala traders have transferred over Rs 1 crore within a short timeframe, much of which was intended to bolster the terrorist network in Punjab, according to police sources, according to police sources.

In connection with this case, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Nuh police initially detained Musharraf, a friend of Rizwan, who was later released after questioning. Subsequently, the SIT arrested Ajay Arora, a resident of Malaysian Patti in Jalandhar, Punjab. He has been accused of sending money to Rizwan through Hawala and facilitating the transactions, police said.

Following Arora's arrest, three additional suspects were apprehended in Amritsar, Punjab, by the SIT. The police are currently interrogating the three suspects, identified as Sandeep Singh, Amandeep, and Jaskaran, who are being held on an 8-day police remand. More arrests are expected in this investigation, police added.

According to officials, the police presented the accused in court at night.

Officials from the Punjab National Bank (PNB) in Tauru confirmed that Rizwan maintains an account with them, but the police have instructed them not to disclose any information regarding Rizwan's account to anyone.

"We are providing the police with the information they require about Rizwan's bank account. Senior police officers have visited the bank multiple times," said Surender Kumar Meena, the bank's manager, although he refused to provide any details about Rizwan's account.

"During interrogation, Rizwan revealed many secrets, including having taken his fellow lawyer, Musharraf, from Bainsi village with him, although Musharraf was unaware of the true purpose of Rizwan's repeated visits to Punjab. Consequently, the investigating team was released after questioning," an investigating officer of the SIT said.

A senior police officer mentioned that suspicious activities, such as terrorism, are being closely monitored. Individuals suspected or known to be involved in such activities are being identified, and their backgrounds are under thorough investigation.

"The SIT team is investigating the bank details, transactions, and even the mobile locations of the suspects. Their daily activities are also being closely monitored. The matter is related to the security of the country, and an in-depth investigation will be conducted", he added.

In May, police arrested Mohammad Tarif, a resident of Kangarka village in the Tauru area, for allegedly sharing sensitive military information with Pakistani handlers and supplying Indian SIM cards to agents at the Pakistan High Commission in Delhi.

Arman, a resident of Rajaka village, was also arrested in May for alleged spying.