Surat Police Arrests Maqbool and Sons for Cybercrime and Hawala Racket
The Gujarat Police have arrested Maqbool, the owner of the Safia Manzil building in Surat, along with his two sons, Kasif and Maz, for their involvement in cybercrime. The operation was led by the Special Operation Group, as confirmed by Surat Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gehlot.
Details of the Arrest
During the raid, authorities recovered 10 bank passbooks, 29 cheque passbooks, 38 debit cards, 497 SIM cards, two money counting machines, and Rs 16.95 lakh in cash. Additionally, Rs 1 lakh in Dubai and Thai currency was found.
Hawala Racket and Cryptocurrency Fraud
Maqbool’s third son and Mahesh Desai, who resides in Dubai, are accused of running a ‘Hawala’ racket. They allegedly transferred money to Maqbool, who exchanged cryptocurrency for cash, earning a 10% profit. Over the past two years, transactions worth Rs 100 crores have been conducted. Maqbool also holds bank accounts in China and Dubai and owns several properties.
Ongoing Investigation
The investigation is ongoing to uncover the network involved in these activities. Central agencies are expected to assist in apprehending the remaining suspects.
Doubts Revealed
Surat Police -: Surat Police is the law enforcement agency responsible for maintaining law and order in the city of Surat, which is in the state of Gujarat, India.
Cybercrime -: Cybercrime refers to illegal activities that are carried out using computers or the internet. This can include hacking, stealing personal information, or online fraud.
Hawala Racket -: A Hawala racket is an informal method of transferring money without any physical money actually moving. It is often used to send money across countries without using banks, which can be illegal.
Special Operation Group -: The Special Operation Group is a specialized unit within the police force that handles serious crimes and operations that require special skills and tactics.
Cryptocurrency -: Cryptocurrency is a type of digital or virtual money that uses special technology called cryptography to secure transactions. Bitcoin is a well-known example of cryptocurrency.
Central Agencies -: Central agencies in India refer to national-level government organizations like the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that help investigate serious crimes across the country.