₹1,285 Crore iPhone Smuggling Racket: Dubai, Hawala Links Revealed by CGST Raid - Read Now

The Central Goods and Services Tax (CGST) department in Delhi has busted an intricate ₹1,285 crore iPhone smuggling racket connected with Dubai and a well-placed hawala network in a sensational crackdown. It was found during the probe that the tax evasion and smuggling of high-value goods, especially iPhones, was being orchestrated by a suspected mastermind Kapil Arora.

Dubai Link and iPhone Smuggling Unveiled
This is a case rife with the ingredients of a thriller. Authorities are shocked as Kapil Arora ran an international operation by having his associates in Dubai collect their money from him after they smuggled in iPhones and other luxury items, evading GST. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) and National Investigation Agency (NIA) might take over the case since the investigation involves several hawala channels and high international contacts.

Raid and Cash Seizure in Karol Bagh
The raids were undertaken on Arora's office situated in Gaffar Market, Karol Bagh, and his house located in East Patel Nagar. ₹13 lakh cash was discovered during the raid at his office while another ₹2.05 crore was detected at his house. According to reports, it belongs to the ownership of his wife. Arora, who had two front companies-Aurora Communication and Cellphone Badlo-is said to have received iPhones from Dubai and China through hawala channels. These iPhones he sold at Karol Bagh without paying GST; profits are believed to have been siphoned abroad through hawala channels.

Hawala and Associates with the Notorious Kabir Talwar
Another dimension has now been added to the case. Investigations revealed that Arora was in touch with Kabir Talwar who was arrested by NIA recently in an entirely different ₹21,000 crore drug trafficking case. Famous for his several high-profile clubs in Delhi, Talwar has further raised the suspense in this already intricate smuggling and financial fraud web.

Ongoing Investigation and Broader Implications
This high-profile bust brings to the spotlight not only tax-evading tricks but also reveals usage of hawala networks and international smuggling rings within the country. The more investigation processes that CGST, ED, and NIA deepen into this case, it can unravel even more layers of cross-border crime, smuggling, and illegal financing methods that are posing a huge threat to India's economic security.

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