Imam got Rs. 40 lakh from hawala operator

Author: Mateen Hafeez and Somit Sen
Publication: The Times of India
Date: January 18, 2006

Maulana Ghulam Hussain Yahya (44), the imam of Haj House mosque who was arrested for his alleged links with Lashkar-e-Toiba (LeT), had received Rs 40 to 50 lakh from a big-time hawala operator with political connections. The money was delivered to militant groups in Kashmir.

A senior officer said Yahya, who was arrested on charges of 'harbouring and assisting terrorists' by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) on January 13, had furnished fake documents to get a SIM card. The police is hunting for a south Mumbai resident who had provided his photograph and address to arrange a SIM card for Yahya. "Yahya had a mobile phone in his name sometime back but he disconnected it. We are trying to find out why he disconnected his own number and obtained another number with some­one else's identity." said police commissioner A N Roy.

Police sources said the mobile SIM card-procured last month-was used to make frequent calls to Salahuddin alias Director, who is in-charge of LeT. The police are also inquiring about a few LeT men who had taken shelter in Mumbai in 2005 and for whom the imam had arranged accommodation at Musafir Khana.

A recorded conversation, believed to be between Yahya and Salahuddin, reveals how the imam was used by the LeT to provide shelter for their men. During the conversation, Salahuddin asked Yahya whether Mohammed Ramzan Haji, (58), another accused, had reached Mumbai. "Has Haji reached Mumbai? He is with Amaanat (the name is a code word for their accomplice). Did you arrange a room for their accommodation?"

Yahya was introduced to Haji by the latter's uncle, Gulam Kashmiri, who passed away in October last year. Kashmiri, who came to Mumbai in the mid-50s, worked as a driver at Haj House for over 20 years. Last year when Haji came to Mumbai, Kashmiri introduced him to Yahya and later they became friends. After Kashmiri's death, Haji had come to Mumbai and reportedly stayed at the Haj House following a reference from Yahya.

The ATS is also making inquiries about four persons who helped Yahya open accounts with several banks including Bombay Mercantile Bank, United Bank of India, Development Credit Bank and Jammu and Kashmir Bank. The ATS also said Yahya had sent lakhs of rupees to J&K through hawala operators. Records of all the bank accounts are being scanned.

The ATS has also asked for details of the passport recovered from the imam.

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