I-T Department Foils Hawala Plan Ahead of Lok Sabha Election

The Income Tax Department has thwarted a significant attempt by a “prominent political party” to funnel ₹200 crore through hawala channels for distribution during the upcoming Lok Sabha election. The discovery unfolded after the interception of Vinoth Kumar Joseph, a key hawala operator, at Chennai International Airport. Joseph’s deportation from Malaysia led to the uncovering of a vast hawala network operating between Dubai and Malaysia, facilitating the illegal transfer of funds into India.

WhatsApp conversations retrieved from Joseph’s mobile phone revealed plans to transfer the sizable sum from Dubai to Chennai for the political party’s use. Connections to individuals such as Selvam in Dubai and Appu alias Vinayagavelan, reportedly involved in election campaigns, further elucidate the intricate web of hawala transactions. Additional entities facilitating these transactions, including Monika Virola, Al Manar Diamonds, and Suresh, have also been identified, signaling ongoing investigations to trace all involved parties.