The call data records of south Delhi-based businessman Rajesh Kalra shows that he was constantly in touch with people based in Dubai, even on the day of the Rs 7.69 crore heist in south east Delhi’s Lajpat Nagar.
It has led to investigators suspect that the robbed cash may have been procured through a hawala network from a cricket betting racket based in Dubai.
Kalra is an accused in the cricket match-fixing scandal of 2000 involving former South Africa captain Hansie Cronje. According to sources, Kalra was identified by a senior Delhi Police officer when he was being questioned in connection with the robbery on Tuesday. The officer was part of the investigation into the Cronje case.
Kalra has further emerged as a close acquaintance of Bollywood actor Vindoo Dara Singh, who was arrested last year in connection with the Indian Premier League spot-fixing scandal. Vindoo also drove a Jaguar car owned by Kalra.
“This fact confirms Kalra's association with some Mumbai-based bookies including Vindoo,” sources said.
Delhi Police are likely to contact their Mumbai counterparts to trace the hawala trail.
Police said they have conducted raids at various locations in Haryana and even claimed that they have accomplished certain leads. Police Commissioner B S Bassi said, “Our teams are working on the case and we hope to crack it soon.”
Footage unclear
Investigators further said that the footage of CCTV cameras of the crime scene near Lajpat Nagar Metro station is unclear.
“The footage shows several cars. But the number plates of the cars are not visible,” they said. Sources claimed that the money was allegedly collected by the employees of Kalra and his business partner Rahul Ahuja from hawala operators in central Delhi’s Chandni Chowk.
The robbery took place when Ahuja’s employees were heading towards central Delhi’s Karol Bagh to deposit the cash in two separate banks – Punjab National Bank’s Karol Bagh branch and Axis Bank’s Bali Nagar branch
It is also said that the complainant in the case – Rakesh Kumar Sharma –- was reluctant in informing police about the money being stolen.
“Kalra and Rakesh did not want to report the robbery of the money. It was only after bystanders persuaded an occupant of the Honda City, that the matter was reported to police,” sources added.
As per the FIR, Rakesh claimed to be a diamond merchant from Jaipur with an office in south east Delhi's Kalkaji. In his statement, Rakesh told police that Kalra is his business partner. The other four men who were with Rakesh in the Honda City and Hyundai i20 cars were claimed to be employees of Kalra.
At present, Rakesh and Sandeep are under police scanner. Sources said Rakesh was evading questioning citing ‘ill health’.
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