A Chennai-based businessman was arrested by an anti-terror squad (ATS) of Rajasthan on Monday night to investigate into a case of funding the terrorist group Islamic State (IS).
Haroon Rashid hails from Ramanathapuram and has been working in Chennai for the last 30 years.
Rashid, who runs a mobile phone and money exchange business, was taken to Jaipur by a private airline. The anti-terror squad consisted of a five-member team from Rajasthan led by an ADSP.
Rashid had reportedly closed his shop at Burma Bazaar around 10:45pm and had left to meet his friends near Muthialpet, where he was arrested by the ATS.
Rashid’s name was told to the anti-terror squad by Mohammed Iqbal, who was arrested in February over suspected links to terrorist groups.
ATS SP Vikas Kumar told The New Indian Express that they suspect Rasheed to have been involved in channeling money to terror groups like IS.
However, according to reports, Iqbal’s name was revealed by Jameel, who was arrested in November after which, police found that Iqbal had received calls from a Chennai landline number which led to
Vikas Kumar, superintendent of police, ATS told The Hindustan Times that preliminary investigations have shown that Rasheed had links with Iqbal and he had helped send hawala money for funding IS to UAE.
A source from Rajasthan police told TNIE that Rasheed had claimed that he gave money to couriers to bring mobile phones from Dubai but now they are investigating the terror angle behind these financial transactions.