Chennai: Busting a lottery racket in the city has led the Chennai police to hawala gang that operated from Sowcarpet, on Saturday. The police also intimated the Enforcement Directorate for further delving into the racket.
According to the police sources, nearly Rs1 crore hawala money had been seized from an agent operating from Sowcarpet. Based on a tip-off, the special team of Washermenpet district police, formed by DC Shashank Sai, had raided a house at Netaji Nagar in Tondiarpet.
“The house belongs to Shankaralingam, who is suspected to be the kingpin in one number lottery racket. During the search operation, we have seized Rs 3.80 lakh from the house and arrested Shankaralingam,” police said.
During the investigation, it was revealed that the money is being funnelled to an unknown destination through hawala agent in Sowcarpet. Based on the information the special team searched Navkar Agencies, run by Naresh in Nattu Pillaiyar Street.
“We have also seized nearly Rs 95 lakhsof unaccounted money and receipts of various transactions from Naresh. Meanwhile, Shankaralingam and Naresh have been arrested for further interrogation,” the police said.
