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Accused of looting Rs 1.45 crore hawala money, 11 Madhya Pradesh cops booked, 5 arrested

Of the 11, five personnel have been arrested so far, including Seoni SDOP Pooja Pandey, sub-inspector Arpit Bhairam, and constables Yogendra, Neeraj, and Jagdish. The six others are absconding, police said.

It was alleged that a police team seized approximately Rs 2.9 crore ‘hawala money’ from a Nagpur-based businessman last month, after which they declared only half of it in their official reportIt was alleged that a police team seized approximately Rs 2.9 crore ‘hawala money’ from a Nagpur-based businessman last month, after which they declared only half of it in their official report (File Photo)

Days after they were suspended, an FIR was registered on Tuesday against 11 Madhya Pradesh Police personnel, including a sub-divisional officer of police (SDOP), under dacoity, abduction, and criminal conspiracy charges in connection with the alleged theft of Rs 1.45 crore in hawala money.

Of the 11, five personnel have been arrested so far, including Seoni SDOP Pooja Pandey, sub-inspector Arpit Bhairam, and constables Yogendra, Neeraj, and Jagdish. The six others are absconding, police said.

It was alleged that a police team seized approximately Rs 2.9 crore “hawala money” from Nagpur-based businessman Sohan Parmar in the first week of October. However, they allegedly declared only Rs 1.45 crore in their official report and released the accused without taking action.

Following the incident, police arrested Parmar and his two employees, Sheikh Mukhtar and Imran Pathan, on Friday.

Jabalpur range Inspector General Pramod Verma said, “A criminal case has been registered against 11 police officials, and six of them have been arrested so far — SDOP Puja Pandey, Sub-Inspector Arpit Bhairam and four others. They are being questioned… A special SIT team has been formed for probing the case.”

On Saturday, IG Verma had suspended nine police officers, including station in-charge Arpit Bhairam. Separately, Director General of Police Kailash Makwana suspended SDOP Pooja Pandey in connection with the alleged misconduct.

Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav said, “Maintaining law and order in the state, creating a crime-free environment, and protecting citizens are the primary responsibilities of police officers and employees. The state government will not tolerate police officers who act beyond their duties. Those found guilty in the Seoni incident will face strict disciplinary and legal action.”

Anand Mohan J is an award-winning Senior Correspondent for The Indian Express, currently leading the bureau’s coverage of Madhya Pradesh. With a career spanning over eight years, he has established himself as a trusted voice at the intersection of law, internal security, and public policy. Based in Bhopal, Anand is widely recognized for his authoritative reporting on Maoist insurgency in Central India. In late 2025, he provided exclusive, ground-level coverage of the historic surrender of the final Maoist cadres in Madhya Pradesh, detailing the backchannel negotiations and the "vacuum of command" that led to the state being declared Maoist-free. Expertise and Reporting Beats Anand’s investigative work is characterized by a "Journalism of Courage" approach, holding institutions accountable through deep-dive analysis of several key sectors: National Security & Counter-Insurgency: He is a primary chronicler of the decline of Naxalism in the Central Indian corridor, documenting the tactical shifts of security forces and the rehabilitation of surrendered cadres. Judiciary & Legal Accountability: Drawing on over four years of experience covering Delhi’s trial courts and the Madhya Pradesh High Court, Anand deconstructs complex legal rulings. He has exposed critical institutional lapses, including custodial safety violations and the misuse of the National Security Act (NSA). Wildlife Conservation (Project Cheetah): Anand is a leading reporter on Project Cheetah at Kuno National Park. He has provided extensive coverage of the biological and administrative hurdles of rewilding Namibian and South African cheetahs, as well as high-profile cases of wildlife trafficking. Public Health & Social Safety: His recent investigative work has uncovered systemic negligence in public services, such as contaminated blood transfusions causing HIV infections in thalassemia patients and the human cost of the fertilizer crisis affecting rural farmers. Professional Background Tenure: Joined The Indian Express in 2017. Locations: Transitioned from the high-pressure Delhi City beat (covering courts, police, and labor issues) to his current role as a regional lead in Madhya Pradesh. Notable Investigations: * Exposed the "digital arrest" scams targeting entrepreneurs. Investigated the Bandhavgarh elephant deaths and the impact of kodo millet fungus on local wildlife. Documented the transition of power and welfare schemes (like Ladli Behna) in Madhya Pradesh governance. Digital & Professional Presence Author Profile: Anand Mohan J at Indian Express Twitter handle: @mohanreports ... Read More

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