Hawala operation moves crores using single note piece:Agents carry cash without stopping; monitored via voice recorder and GPS hidden among bundles of money

In a striking display of organized hawala operations, Sagar police intercepted a car carrying Rs 3.98 crore in cash on November 18. The car, traveling from Katni to Maharashtra via Sagar, contained bundles of Rs 500 and Rs 200 notes meticulously stored in a modified box under the middle seat.
The seizure revealed the sophisticated network of hawala agents operating with extreme secrecy and precision, employing tiny pieces of currency notes as proof-of-transfer and using surveillance tools like voice recorders and GPS devices to monitor agents. According to police sources, the agents carrying the money were issued strict instructions before departure. “Take this half-note. All your food and water must be carried inside the car. Do not stop the vehicle under any circumstances. Apply brakes only in emergencies,” were some of the directions given to ensure that the operation remained undetected. Such meticulous planning underscores the scale of this network, moving a large sum of money without leaving a paper trail. How the car was intercepted The police action took place after receiving a tip-off about the car traveling with a large sum of hawala money from Katni toward Maharashtra. Initially, authorities believed the vehicle was coming from Gujarat, and a checkpoint was set up on Malthoun Road. However, subsequent intelligence clarified that the car had left Katni, travelling through Damoh and Sagar toward Maharashtra. The police established multiple checkpoints along Bhopal Road, between Motinagar Chowrah and Ratauna. The car, bearing registration number MH45-BB8843, was intercepted near Ratauna. It contained two Mumbai-based agents, Mukund Devda and Rajesh Patel, who initially tried to resist the search, showing signs of agitation. Officers noticed that the middle seat of the car concealed a sturdy, specially locked box. After calling a local mechanic to assist, the box was opened after approximately one and a half hours, revealing bundles of Rs 500 and Rs 200 notes—amounting to nearly Rs 3.98 crore. The agents were immediately taken into custody, and the car was impounded. The seized cash was deposited in the State Bank of India, Sagar branch, while the Jabalpur Income Tax Department was notified and dispatched a team to oversee further investigation. The hawala network’s secretive methods The intercepted operation revealed how the hawala network employs unique and covert methods to move money. Agents receive a tiny piece of currency, often of low denomination, as proof-of-transfer. Presenting this note enables them to collect vehicles filled with cash without the need for formal documentation. Agents transporting the cash are forbidden from leaving the vehicle except for brief bathroom breaks. All meals, water, and snacks—including biscuits and namkeen—are carried inside the car to avoid detection. Even for long trips, stopping at dhabas or hotels is strictly prohibited. Each trip reportedly earns agents Rs 20,000, covering both expenses and their remuneration for moving large sums safely. According to police sources, the agents intercepted in Sagar had previously transported cash via the same route from Katni to Damoh and Sagar multiple times. They were confident of the route’s security, which contributed to the network’s efficiency—but it also ultimately led to their apprehension due to an informer’s tip-off. Travel route and execution The arrested agents traveled from Mumbai to Katni via train to Nagpur, then by bus to Katni. There, a car awaited them, handed over after confirming the piece of currency note. A young motorcyclist delivered the car to the agents, who then proceeded toward Maharashtra through Damoh and Sagar. The money was ultimately meant to reach Mumbai businessman Kamlesh Shah in Malad. During the operation, police discovered a voice recorder hidden among the bundles of cash and a GPS device, indicating that the hawala operators constantly monitored agents in real-time. This level of surveillance ensured that agents could not tamper with or divert funds during transit. Such precautions reveal the sophistication and scale of the hawala network, which operates across multiple states. Past cases linked to Kamlesh Shah Investigations have shown that this is not the first time the name of Mumbai businessman Kamlesh Shah has surfaced in large-scale hawala operations: The recurring pattern highlights the expansive network maintained by Shah, connecting multiple cities and involving complex transit routes to evade detection. Income tax investigation underway Following the Sagar seizure, the Income Tax Department in Jabalpur, led by the Deputy Director, examined the seized cash and questioned the arrested agents regarding the operation’s execution. Investigators are collecting further details, identifying associated individuals, and planning to summon them for questioning. No official statement has yet been released by the Income Tax Department, but sources confirm that further action is expected based on the ongoing investigation. Authorities are particularly interested in tracing the network’s financing mechanisms and verifying if other similar consignments are in transit. Security and precautionary measures in hawala operations The seized operation sheds light on the hawala network’s elaborate security measures. From secret compartments in vehicles to constant monitoring via GPS and voice recorders, the operators ensure that agents cannot deviate from the planned route or mishandle cash. Meals and water are provided inside the car to prevent stopping, and even minor deviations from the route could trigger surveillance alerts. The sophistication and secrecy maintained by these networks make them extremely difficult to detect, highlighting the critical role of coordinated police intelligence and Income Tax surveillance.