GRP hand-in-glove with hawala operators?

Two suspects held with 2 kg gold and Rs 32 lakh in cash at CST yesterday say they had paid two GRP officials Rs 10,000 as protection money

THE arrest of two alleged hawala operators at CST has brought to light the disturbing possibility of the Government Railway Police (GRP) being involved in smuggling black money.
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The duo has given in writing that they had paid two GRP officials Rs 10,000 to turn a blind eye to the 2 kg gold and Rs 32 lakh in cash they were smuggling into the city.


Constable Eknath Mane with the two accused who he nabbed with the cash and gold at CST yesterday

According to police records, constable Eknath Mane became suspicious when Ramesh Verma, who had alighted at CST from Punjab Mail around 11.30 am, tried to flee after seeing him.

Mane apprehended Verma immediately and questioned him. He then asked for Verma's ticket and discovered that another person was travelling with him.

After sustained questioning, Verma confessed that his accomplice, Ajay Verma, was travelling with him and that they were smuggling in gold and money in two bags and a suitcase.
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The Vermas then baffled Mane by telling him that he should know who they were and that their luggage was not supposed to be checked.

Alarmed at the suggestion of GRP men being involved, Mane switched to a friendlier gear and took the duo for snacks and tea.

He promised to let them go scot-free if they told him who had agreed to not check their baggage.

While the duo scribbled the names, Mane went through their phones and found VTGangure and VTBarge the surnames of a GRP sub-inspector and constable saved in their contacts' list.

"I was shocked to see a sub-inspector and a constable's name saved in their mobile phones. They have even given me in writing that they paid two GRP men Rs 10,000 as protection money," said Mane.

Arrest
Mane turned the Vermas in and produced them before his superiors. Rs 32 lakh in cash and gold ornaments weighing 2 kg were recovered from them. During interrogation, the duo revealed that they hailed from Bhopal and were on their way to Zaveri Bazar.

The police are now conducting an inquiry into the alleged involvement of GRP officers Gangure and Barge. "It is still not clear whether the two names saved in the phones are those of the GRP officials," said a source from the GRP.

Insiders said that a large number of hawala operators and personal couriers ufffd also known as Angadias ufffd transport contraband into the city through CST. They say GRP officials are regularly paid 'protection money' to look the other way.

The Other Side
GRP Commissioner Tukaram Chavan said, "I have no idea about the case. Please contact the senior inspector of CST."

DCP Anil Tamaychekar and Senior Inspector Ashok Jadhav, who is attached to the CST GRP, were not available for comment.

Jadhav did not respond to a text message about the names of two of his juniors being found in the cellphones of the suspects.