Hydrabad: A travel agency owner and his aide were arrested for allegedly taking part in a hawala racket run by a travel agency owner on Wednesday night. The police seized Rs 97 lakh.

Late on Wednesday night, Task Force sleuths on a tip-off intercepted a two-wheeler (TS12 EC 3783) on SP Road, Secunderabad. Two persons, Mohd Siddiq Ahmed, 40, owner of Ahmed Tours and Travels, who also runs a money transfer business, and Mohammed Muneer, 40, an Arabic teacher, were carrying `97 lakh in the dickey of the scooter.





During investigations, the police found that about five months ago, Siddiq met one Faheem, a realtor from Hussaini Alam, who was into hawala operations. He offered to join Siddiq and take a commission for collecting and delivering cash. On Wednesday, Siddiq collected money from one Rajesh, a hawala operator on SP Road in Secunderabad when he was caught along with his aide.

“Siddiq has been running the travel agency for the last 10 years. He was suffering from losses and Faheem’s offer looked good to him. He asked his friend Muneer to join him to deliver the consignment of cash and offered money for being on his side. Faheem guided Siddiq over the phone as to where he had to collect the cash. Faheem’s communication was through WhatsApp messages and calls, which has recently become a popular mode of communication for crooks to avoid police vigilance,” a Task Force official said.

Police is looking for Faheem to arrest and question him regarding the source and destination of the cash.

“Soon after Siddiq was caught, Faheem was absconding. It is suspected that the hawala money is also being given to drug dealers in the state,” a police source said.

A Task Force official said that the accused were handed over to the Mahankali police after seizing cash, three mobile phones and a bike. A case has been booked against them under Sections 171 (B), 420 of IPC and 120 (B) IPC for further investigation.