Raipur Hawala Scam: Conman Flees with Rs 35 Lakh Using Half-Note Trick

Mumbai-based plywood employee tricked in cash handover at Telibandha; police launch probe as IT department flags unaccounted funds in daily Rs 30 crore racketHalf-Note Trick Deployed.

Raipur police have registered a case after a Mumbai resident was duped of Rs 35 lakh in a classic half-note fraud linked to

hawala operations. The incident occurred on April 11 in the Telibandha area when the victim, Karan Sharma, a plywood factory employee, was sent to handle a cash transaction.

Employee Sent from Mumbai

Karan Sharma, who works for businessman Kanak Ram, reached Raipur on instructions to collect Rs 35 lakh from one trader and hand it over to another. The money was part of an informal hawala transfer, officials said.

First Handover Completed

At the designated spot, the first contact showed half a currency note. After serial number verification, Sharma received the cash without suspicion. His employer then asked him to wait and prepare for the second delivery.

Second Deal Turns Fraud

Soon after, Sharma received another number and half-note details. He was directed to the Shriram Temple near VIP Tiraha. The second man produced a matching half-note. Trusting the verification, Sharma handed over the entire Rs 35 lakh in cash.

Photo Exposes the Scam

When Sharma clicked a photo of the half-note and sent it to his employer, the mismatch was spotted. The serial number did not tally with the first note. Realising he had been cheated, Sharma immediately reported the matter.

Police Registers FIR

The victim lodged a complaint at Telibandha police station. Officers have initiated a case and are examining CCTV footage from the area. Mobile numbers used to contact Sharma are also being traced to identify the accused.

IT Department Joins Probe

Following the hawala angle, police informed the Income Tax department. Officials have begun verifying the source of the funds and have sought transaction details from the employer. A year ago, Raipur police had seized similar unaccounted cash in a separate operation.

Raipur’s Rs 30 Crore Daily Racket

Local sources familiar with the trade say Raipur sees nearly Rs 30 crore in daily hawala business. Most funds move to Mumbai and Jharkhand, with commissions of Rs 1,500–2,000 per Rs 1 lakh packet. Operators also claim routes to Dubai, Sri Lanka and Nepal. Earlier Enforcement Directorate probes, including the Mahadev betting case, had flagged Raipur and Durg as key nodes in such networks where cash reached officials and politicians through couriers.

The latest incident has once again drawn attention to the scale of informal money transfers in the state capital. Police are treating it as a targeted fraud within the hawala circuit, while the IT department’s parallel inquiry focuses on tax evasion and fund origins.

Investigators believe the conman had precise details of the transaction, suggesting possible insider knowledge. Searches for the accused are underway. Further updates are expected as both agencies share findings.