New Delhi: After the anti-terror squad (ATS) of Madhya Pradesh Police arrested four persons in connection with an alleged terror funding case operated from Pakistan, MP chief minister Kamal Nath said that those linked to terror funding would “not be spared despite their association with any political outfit,” according to a report in NDTV.
One of the four persons arrested is former Bajrang Dal leader Balram Singh, who had been held in February 2017 in a similar case for links to Chinese SIM box-enabled and Pakistan-guided spying funding ring but was released on bail later on.
Balram Singh then formed a similar spy funding racket and allegedly ran fraudulent lottery schemes across the country. Proceeds from this racket were then allegedly routed via banks and used to fund spying activities.
The five suspects, including Balram, Sunil Singh and Shubham Mishra, were arrested by the Satna Police. Of them, three have been arrested by the ATS while the other two are still being questioned. The police also received tip-offs that the accused were in regular touch with people based in Pakistan and had shared “strategic information” and bank details to carry out cross-border financial transactions.
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Satna SP Riaz Iqbal told the Indian Express that prima facie, it was a case of terror funding.
The MP Congress media coordinator Narendra Saluja, in a statement issued on Friday, alleged that the men, in addition to being involved in spying activities for Pakistan, were also linked to crime incidents in Chitrakoot, Dewas, Barwani and Mandsaur.
Madhya Pradesh BJP spokesperson Rajnish Agrawal, in response, said, “We don’t know whether he [Balram Singh] is associated with the Bajrang Dal or not.” He added that the country’s security agencies should be allowed to take action. “Whosoever commits a crime, the government should take action against them instead of revealing his caste, religion and party,” he said.
Balram had allegedly introduced new people to his handlers in Pakistan and they were regularly in touch through WhatsApp calls and messages.
Balram Sunil and Shubham were also allegedly transferring money to accounts on the directions of their Pakistani handlers and sent bank account details of her accomplices as well. The ATS has booked the trio under Section 123 of IPC (Concealing with intent to facilitate design to wage war).