GRP, RPF seize ₹1.22 crore hawala cash and ₹41.5 lakh drugs in Hyderabad ops
Synopsis
Railway security forces in Hyderabad ran two back-to-back operations on 27 May — netting ₹1.22 crore in alleged hawala cash from a courier on the Devagiri Express and seizing 83 kg of marijuana worth ₹41.5 lakh from a four-member inter-state network. Both busts relied on behavioural surveillance and real-time digital tracking, signalling a sharper, tech-led enforcement posture on Indian rail corridors.
Key Takeaways
GRP and RPF seized ₹1,22,70,000 in alleged hawala cash from Vijay Ambadas Gupta on the Devagiri Express under Operation Satark .
The cash was allegedly being ferried from Mumbai to Secunderabad on behalf of jeweller 'Santosh Seth' ; the case has been referred to the Income Tax Department and Intelligence Bureau .
RPF Hyderabad Division seized 83 kg of marijuana worth ₹41.5 lakh and arrested four accused , including one woman, under Operation Narcos .
The drug network spanned Maharashtra, Odisha, and Telangana ; the bust was enabled by CCTV analytics and real-time movement tracking.
Both operations used behavioural profiling by CPDS personnel as the primary trigger for interception.
The Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) conducted two separate operations in Hyderabad on 27 May, seizing ₹1.22 crore in alleged hawala money and dismantling an inter-state narcotics network that had stashed 83 kg of marijuana worth ₹41.5 lakh. Four accused were arrested in the drug bust alone, officials confirmed.
The Hawala Interception
Acting on suspicious behaviour observed during routine checks, Crime Prevention and Detection Squad (CPDS) personnel intercepted Vijay Ambadas Gupta, a resident of Amravati district, Maharashtra, between Bollaram and Malkajgiri railway stations aboard the Devagiri Express. The joint operation was conducted under Operation Satark on Tuesday.
Gupta was allegedly transporting the cash from Mumbai to Secunderabad on behalf of one 'Santosh Seth', who reportedly operates 'Kantha Jewellery' in Mumbai. According to officials, the money was destined for one 'Banti', who allegedly runs a jewellery shop at Monda Market, Secunderabad. Gupta was reportedly offered ₹5,000 for the job.
The seized currency comprised 24,000 notes of ₹500, 300 notes of ₹200, and 2,100 notes of ₹100, totalling ₹1,22,70,000. The case has been referred to the Income Tax Department and the Intelligence Bureau, while digital verification is ongoing through the Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) and the RPF Cyber Cell.
Inter-State Drug Network Busted
In a separate but near-simultaneous operation under Operation Narcos, the RPF Hyderabad Division cracked an inter-state narcotics network spanning Maharashtra, Odisha, and Telangana. The breakthrough came aboard the Nagavali Express, when CPDS personnel flagged a passenger displaying evasive body language during surveillance checks.
An initial search recovered 48 kg of marijuana worth ₹24 lakh from the suspect. Interrogation suggested the accused was one node in a larger trafficking chain, prompting a rapid follow-up operation at Charlapalli — driven by CCTV analytics and real-time movement tracking. Three more accused were apprehended, including one woman, bringing the total seizure to 83 kg worth ₹41.5 lakh.
What Officials Said
Debashmita C. Banerjee, Senior Divisional Security Commissioner, RPF Hyderabad Division, said the force had intensified its fight against organised crime by deploying 'data-driven policing, behavioural analytics and tech-enabled intelligence mapping' to prevent railway corridors from being used for drug trafficking. She added that the initiative was aimed at safeguarding both passengers and railway infrastructure.
Significance and What Comes Next
The twin operations underscore a broader push by railway security forces to use digital tools — CCTV analytics, cyber intelligence, and behavioural profiling — against financial crime and narcotics. This is part of a pattern of escalating enforcement on Indian rail networks, which have increasingly come under scrutiny as transit corridors for illicit cash and contraband. Further investigations are underway, and additional arrests in the narcotics case are not ruled out, according to officials.
Point of View
Spanning three states and four accused, points to a structured trafficking chain rather than opportunistic smuggling. The referral to the Income Tax Department and Intelligence Bureau in the hawala case suggests authorities are pursuing the network upstream, not just the courier. Whether that leads to action against the alleged principals — the Mumbai jeweller and the Secunderabad recipient — will be the real measure of operational depth.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Hyderabad railway police operations on 27 May?
GRP and RPF personnel seized ₹1,22,70,000 in alleged hawala money from a courier on the Devagiri Express and 83 kg of marijuana worth ₹41.5 lakh from a four-member inter-state drug network in two separate operations on 27 May 2025.
Who was arrested in the hawala money seizure case?
Vijay Ambadas Gupta, a resident of Amravati district in Maharashtra, was arrested. He was allegedly transporting cash from Mumbai to Secunderabad on behalf of a jeweller identified as 'Santosh Seth', for a reported fee of ₹5,000.
What is Operation Satark and Operation Narcos?
Operation Satark is a joint GRP-RPF initiative focused on detecting financial crimes and suspicious cargo on railway networks. Operation Narcos is an RPF-led drive targeting narcotics trafficking through railway corridors, under which the 83 kg marijuana seizure was made.
How did the RPF catch the drug trafficking network?
CPDS personnel first flagged a passenger on the Nagavali Express based on evasive body language, recovering 48 kg of marijuana. A follow-up digital operation using CCTV analytics and movement tracking at Charlapalli led to the arrest of three more accused, including one woman.
Which agencies are investigating the hawala case further?
The hawala seizure case has been referred to the Income Tax Department and the Intelligence Bureau. Additional digital verification is ongoing through the Interoperable Criminal Justice System (ICJS) and the RPF Cyber Cell.
