In a significant crackdown on international organized crime, the National Investigation Agency conducted coordinated early morning raids in Bihar's East Champaran district on Sunday. The operations targeted a sophisticated network involved in cybercrime, hawala transactions, and counterfeit currency circulation across international borders.
Dawn Raids Uncover Cross-Border Network
The NIA team, supported by local police, carried out simultaneous searches at three locations in the Chakiya and Adapur areas near the sensitive India-Nepal border. The operation began in the early hours of Sunday, with police teams surrounding targeted properties to prevent escapes.
In Koila-Belawa village under Chakiya police station, the investigation agency arrested a Nepali national identified as Dhiraj Tiwari. The arrest came after intensive questioning of family members at the house of late Narayan Pathak, where Tiwari was reportedly staying during his visit to India.
Dead Woman's Bank Account Reveals Shocking Transactions
Investigators made a startling discovery during their probe - Priyanka Kumari, daughter of Narayan Pathak, who died of a heart attack in 2018, had her bank account actively processing transactions worth crores of rupees years after her death. The account showed continuous financial activity despite the account holder being deceased for six years.
Priyanka had married Dhiraj Tiwari, a Nepali citizen, in 2012. Tiwari had been working in Dubai for the past six years and came under NIA's scanner for allegedly operating an extensive network of unlawful activities spanning Dubai, Nepal, and India. The investigation revealed that the gang was exploiting the open border between India and Nepal to facilitate illegal financial transactions.
Multiple Locations Targeted, One Suspect Escapes
While the NIA successfully apprehended Dhiraj Tiwari from Koila-Belawa village, another suspect managed to evade capture during simultaneous raids in Adapur block. The agency raided two locations in Arara village to arrest Jitendra Sahani, but he escaped from his house before the team could reach him.
During the investigation, the NIA team thoroughly checked cellphones of all family members and conducted lengthy interrogations. Authorities were particularly alarmed to discover that Tiwari possessed documents related to citizenship in both India and Nepal, confirming the cross-border nature of his operations and the sophisticated methods employed by the network.
The NIA disclosed that the criminal syndicate had been exploiting the free movement of traffic across the India-Nepal border to carry out illegal transactions worth crores of rupees through hawala channels, counterfeit currency circulation, and cyber fraud operations. Investigators believe the network has connections with several players across the border, whose identities are currently under investigation.
Santosh Kumar, SDPO of Chakiya, along with other police officers, provided crucial support to the NIA team during the operation. The coordinated effort between central and state agencies highlights the seriousness with which authorities are treating cross-border financial crimes that threaten national security and economic stability.
