‘Hawala operator’ Pathreja gets bail in 13/7 case

Pathreja,arrested by Maharashtra ATS in Delhi on January 31,2012,is first of five accused in the case to secure bail. HC said the prosecution had no material to show Pathreja had knowledge that the Rs 10 lakh he delivered to Bhatkal was being used for terror.

ATS claimed in an affidavit filed through additional public prosecutor Usha Kejriwal that Pathreja “had knowledge” that the funds would be used for terror. “The appellant accused was involved in illegal hawala operations and was in contact with wanted accused Muzaffar Kola,Ubed,Farooq and Yasin Bhatkal. By providing funds,the appellant accused has per se abetted the criminal activity of the syndicate.”

Pathreja’s counsel Ashok Mundargi argued he was not aware of any terrorist activities or that Bhatkal was a wanted terrorist. He said even if the prosecution case against Pathreja was assumed correct,he could at most be prosecuted under Income Tax or Foreign Exchange Management Act.

ATS claimed Yasin Bhatkal alias Imran was in touch with a hawala operator from Mumbai. Its affidavit said interrogation of the hawala operator and his aides revealed they received phone calls from Dubai to deliver Rs 10 lakh to one Shivanand. Investigations also revealed Kola,a native of Bhatkal,ran a hawala operation out of Dubai and that Rs 10 lakh was delivered through Pathreja to Shivanand in Delhi.

“Deeper probe revealed Shivanand is none other than (Yasin) Bhatkal,” the affidavit states.