Vehicle carried ₹4 crore, ₹2 crore allegedly kept by police:ASI escorts businessman, outpost in-charge negotiates; investigation report lays out roles

A major controversy has emerged in the Guna ‘hawala’ case, where the initial narrative claimed that ₹1 crore was recovered from a vehicle and ₹20 lakh was taken by police before letting it go. However, this version has now been found to be misleading. According to a deeper probe and an internal police inquiry report accessed by Bhaskar, the vehicle actually carried ₹4 crore, out of which ₹2 crore was allegedly kept by the police. A proper deal was struck, with each police personnel playing a defined role in the operation. An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) brought the hawala operator along with the vehicle, while the station in-charge handled the cash deal. The investigation report further reveals that the locations of the involved police personnel were traced at both the SP office and the residence, and the trader was also present there. These findings have been confirmed in the internal inquiry report. The investigation report into the March hawala case has now reached the Gwalior IG. Acting on the IG’s directions, the Guna SP has issued charge sheets to all four policemen involved. Further action will follow after a departmental inquiry. Bhaskar attempted to understand what the investigation report states and the roles of those involved. Read the full report… Know the first case and the sequence of events so far On 19 March 2026, at Ruthiyai outpost on National Highway-46, police stopped a Gujarat-registered vehicle. It was initially claimed that ₹1 crore cash was found during the search, and ₹20 lakh was taken before letting the vehicle go. The next day, following a high-level call from Gujarat, the police returned the money. On 20 March, the same vehicle returned to Guna to collect the cash and remained there for nearly five hours. On 22 March, Gwalior DIG Amit Sanghi reached Guna and immediately suspended four police personnel. The following day, Guna SP Ankit Soni was also removed, marking a major escalation in the case. The investigation was handed over to trainee IPS Ayush Jakhad. After a 25-day probe, the report was submitted to IG Arvind Saxena. Statements of police personnel, traders and others linked to the case were recorded, and the roles of all four suspended policemen were found suspicious. Understand the complete hawala story in 7 points 1. Station In-charge Called Vehicle to Residence On 19 March 2026, Dharnaoda police station in-charge Prabhat Katare (SI) was informed about the intercepted vehicle and cash recovery. Instead of calling it to Ruthiyai outpost, he directed the vehicle to his residence, where the deal was finalised. Evidence shows he later travelled to Guna in a private vehicle the same night and again the next day. He also met the then SP, with his location traced in Guna. 2. ASI Had Intercepted the Vehicle on Highway Ruthiyai outpost in-charge Syed Hussain stopped the vehicle. After finding cash, he informed the station in-charge and brought the vehicle to his residence. The vehicle was routed through CCTV blind spots. 3. He was the one who received information about cash in the vehicle Head Constable Devendra Sikriwar played a key role. He received input from a private person Nitin Jadon, who is involved in vehicle checking and recovery operations and has criminal cases registered against him. He had 11 conversations with Sikriwar, as per evidence found in the investigation. His movement was also recorded near the SP office on 20 March. Movement of a private Creta vehicle and Dial 112 vehicle towards Guna was also seen. 4. Information not conveyed to officers Driver constable Sunder Raman drove the vehicle carrying ASI Sajid Hussain to the spot. The entire action took place in his presence, but he did not inform senior officers either during or after the operation. 5. Traders also reached SP office/bungalow Investigation found that on 20 March, Gujarat traders Anil Patel and Maulik Patel were present in Guna. Their vehicle movement was seen near the SP office/bungalow. On 20 March, the vehicle remained in Guna for five hours, confirmed through CCTV footage at Pagra toll and toll records. This suggests they may have met the SP and later the money was returned. 6. Police did not make entry in the daily diary A major question raised is that despite cash seizure, no entry was made in the general diary. There was also no information shared with senior officers. Because of this, the role of the officers was found suspicious and four personnel were suspended. 7. Police took 2 crores in jute bag The investigation report also mentions that ₹4 crore cash was found in jute bags. As per alleged deal, 50% (₹2 crore) was kept by police and ₹2 crore was left with the vehicle. However, after some hours, police had to return the full ₹2 crore following a high-level call from Gujarat. After the call, the vehicle came back the next day to collect the money. Traders admitted to meeting with SP Gujarat traders admitted in statements that they met the SP. Surat-based masala trader Dakshit Patel said only ₹9.50 lakh was being transported legally from Gujarat to Delhi. However, when the vehicle reached Delhi, the other party was not found, and the driver returned via Indore. At Ruthiyai toll check, police stopped the vehicle but allowed it after explanation that the money was legitimate. Later, on counting in Indore, only ₹8.50 lakh was found. The trader said ₹1 lakh was missing due to counting error. He then met SP Ankit Soni in Guna and informed him. The SP advised filing a written complaint, but the traders instead re-checked at Ruthiyai police station and found no police fault. They later did not file any complaint. Bhaskar had already reported on 22 March the roles of each police officer involved.