Fresh Action in Seoni Hawala Loot Case: DSP Pankaj Mishra, Constable and Two Hawala Operators Arrested; Sent to Police Remand

Seoni News:
In a major development in the high-profile ₹2.96 crore Seoni hawala loot case, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) has arrested four more individuals on Tuesday. Those arrested include Balaghat Hawk Force DSP Pankaj Mishra, a constable from Jabalpur Crime Branch, and two hawala operators. The court has sent all four accused to two-day police custody.

Key Accused Taken Into Custody

The SIT crackdown has revealed the involvement of senior officials in the conspiracy. Along with DSP Mishra and Head Constable Pramod Soni, the team has also detained a relative of CSP Pooja Pandey and an informer linked to the case. All four were produced before the Seoni court, which remanded them to police custody until November 20. Investigators consider DSP Mishra a crucial link in the entire operation.

How the Case Unfolded

The case dates back to the intervening night of October 8–9, when Jabalpur Crime Branch constable Pradeep Soni received a tip-off about the movement of ₹2.96 crore in hawala money being transported via Seoni, Nagpur, and Jalna.
He passed this information to DSP Pankaj Mishra, who then informed Seoni CSP Pooja Pandey.

According to the investigation, a plan was allegedly hatched to intercept and loot the hawala money. CSP Pooja Pandey and 10 others have already been jailed for allegedly stopping the vehicle on NH-44 near Siladehi bypass and looting ₹1.47 crore. Police previously recovered ₹1.45 crore from the accused officers and another ₹1.25 crore from hawala operators.

Internal Information Misused

Jabalpur IG Pramod Verma stated that the SIT found clear evidence of misuse of internal police intelligence to execute the robbery. He confirmed that all newly arrested accused have been interrogated and placed under police remand. More revelations are expected as the investigation progresses.

The case, involving police officials themselves in a hawala money heist, has shaken the state police department and raised questions about internal security and integrity within law enforcement.