New Delhi: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has seized Rs 38 lakh alleged hawala cash, both in Indian and foreign currencies, after it raided a Chandani Chowk based operator ahead of the Lok Sabha polls in Delhi, according to an official statement issued Friday.
The central agency said it searched Dault Ram Soni's homes in Delhi and office in the popular market place area of Chandani Chowk and seized multiple currencies like Euro, Pound, New Zealand dollars, Canadian dollars, Ringgit, Yuan, Dinar and Indian rupee.
It said the action was carried out under the Foreign Exchange Management Act (FEMA).
"An information from a reliable source was received and it was suspected that Soni is involved in hawala activities. On verification of this information, it was observed that Soni was in regular touch with various people based in India and abroad and was facilitating the unauthorised transfer of money on commission basis to and from locations like Dubai, Hong Kong, Turkey, United Kingdom among others," the Enforcement Directorate said in a statement.
"Rs 38 lakh cash in different currencies and six mobile phones of Soni and his employees were seized during the raids. A number of incriminating messages and conversations relating to day-to-day hawala transactions were found in the phones. Further investigation is under progress," the ED said.
The agency, however, did not indicate that the alleged illegal cash was being brought for the ongoing elections.
The seven Lok Sabha seats in Delhi will vote on Sunday.
