Belagavi Police Uncover Cash Smuggling Scheme After Robbery Complaint Turns Suspicious
In a strange turn of events, Belagavi police arrested three individuals, including businessman Suraj Honamane, who had previously lodged a complaint claiming he was robbed of Rs 75 lakh by highway robbers. Honamane, from Kolhapur, Maharashtra, had reported being waylaid on November 15 on the Bengaluru-Mumbai National Highway-4 near Haragapura in Hukkeri taluk. His SUV was found abandoned near Nerli village with Rs 1.01 crore hidden in a secret compartment, raising suspicions about his story.
Upon further questioning, Honamane, along with his car driver Arif Sheikh and associate Ajay Saragar, was taken into custody. Police discovered the SUV had been modified to hide cash, leading to a case under the Motor Vehicles Act. Investigations revealed a connection to gold trader Bharat Marugade, who deals in used gold between Maharashtra and Kerala, possibly involving a larger cash smuggling operation. The Income Tax Department has been notified for further investigation.
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