Surat: The Surat Crime Branch has exposed a major “political hawala scandal” allegedly involving the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) just ahead of the local body elections. The investigation has revealed an illegal financial network that allegedly funnelled over ₹1 crore from Delhi to Surat over the past four months via angadia channels.

The ‘Delhi–Surat’ Syndicate

Police have identified a well-organised interstate syndicate operating between the national capital and Gujarat. The key figures include:

• Himanshu Pahuja: Based in Janakpuri, Delhi, Pahuja is alleged to be the main financier and handler of the syndicate. He is reported to be a close associate of AAP leader Surendra Bhardwaj.
• Akash Mishra: Operating from the Piplod area of Surat, Mishra is a former personal assistant (PA) to Delhi’s ex-Health Minister Satyendar Jain. He allegedly acted as the primary financial receiver in Surat.
• Ajay Tiwari: Mishra’s associate, who assisted in the distribution and management of the illegal funds within the city.

CCTV Footage and Modus Operandi

The breakthrough came after the Crime Branch obtained CCTV footage from local angadia (traditional courier) firms. The footage reportedly shows individuals counting large sums of cash and handling illegal transfers. According to police sources, the funds were sent from Delhi under direct orders from high-ranking party officials to support local operations.

It is learnt that Himanshu Pahuja is allegedly the key operator in this case. Pahuja was previously active in the Congress but is currently believed to be associated with the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and is considered close to Surendra Bhardwaj. The Crime Branch questioned him for several hours. Investigations indicate that he played a central role in sending funds from Delhi. He has been released for now, but his activities remain under surveillance.

Local Network and Role

The investigation further revealed that Mishra and Tiwari were not merely receivers but were also deeply involved in local political activities in Surat. They reportedly played a key role in collecting and distributing funds on behalf of Pahuja.

Misuse of Funds for Election Campaigning

Authorities suspect that these unaccounted funds were used for election-related activities, including organising rallies, funding local workers, and carrying out “secret political operations.” This practice is a direct violation of the Model Code of Conduct and Income Tax regulations.

Income Tax Department Joins Probe

The Surat Crime Branch has formally notified the Income Tax (IT) Department to trace the source of this alleged “black money.” Several high-profile political figures in Surat are expected to be summoned for questioning as the investigation expands.

Potential Interstate Links

While the current focus is on the Delhi–Surat pipeline, police suspect that similar hawala networks may be active in other major Gujarat cities such as Ahmedabad, Rajkot, and Vadodara. An interstate investigation team may be formed to dismantle the entire financial chain.

The Crime Branch is currently analysing technical surveillance inputs and banking data to uncover the full extent of the syndicate’s reach. DeshGujarat