Daijiworld Media Network - Lucknow

Lucknow, Nov 9: The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested a man from Greater Noida on charges of spreading religious enmity and laundering crores of rupees through hawala channels.

The accused, identified as Farhan Nabi Siddiqui, has been booked for inciting hostility between communities under the guise of publishing religious books, receiving illegal funds from abroad, and sheltering foreign nationals living illegally in India.

According to an ATS statement, Siddiqui, along with his associate Nasi Tobaad, operated three companies — Istanbul International Pvt Ltd, Hakikat Wakfi Foundation, and Real Global Express Logistics Pvt Ltd. These firms were linked to Hakikat Printing Publications in Greater Noida, which allegedly printed religious literature designed to provoke hatred and violence.

The ATS also revealed that the companies housed individuals from Turkey and Germany without government clearance and provided shelter to Bangladeshi nationals residing illegally in India.

During the raid, officials recovered 12 books in Hindi, Arabic, and Bengali, along with two mobile phones and three laptops.

Investigators allege that Siddiqui and Tobaad laundered nearly Rs 11 crore from abroad via hawala networks. The funds were reportedly used to purchase land in the names of madrasas, mosques, and companies across Uttar Pradesh and Punjab.

The ATS has launched a detailed investigation into the financial and international links of the accused.