Patna, Nov. 25: The beneficiaries of huge funds transactions from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia through hawala channel are on the radar of a joint team of the National Investigation Agency and Lakhisarai police.

Intensifying its operations, the probe team zeroed in on two persons — Md Arif and Mustaq — in Mangalore in Karnataka yesterday. The duo — Arif (24), a BBA student, and Mustaq (45), a contractor who also owns a chicken stall — were arrested on the basis of the information given by the alleged kingpin of the racket — Ayesha Bano and her husband Jubair.

Ayesha and Jubair are in the police custody at present.

Arif and Mustaq are suspected to have been associated with the racket for long and have received money from the couple (Ayesha and Jubair). Lakhisarai superintendent of police Rajiv Mishra confirmed the arrest of two more suspects from Karnataka. “The suspects hailing from Amblamogaru Madaka and Sooralpady of Mangalore are being brought to Lakhisarai on transit remand,” he told The Telegraph.

Ayesha and Jubair, the Mangalore-based couple, earlier revealed to the interrogators that they had been getting funds from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia. Ayesha reportedly admitted that she had received Rs 2 crore in her bank accounts in the past one year and the sum was transferred to various accounts later.

During investigation, the couple revealed the names of two other beneficiaries — one hailing from Assam and the other from Kerala. The Assam resident has been identified as Md Kalaluddin.

“I can’t share more information because it would hamper the investigation,” an investigating officer said, adding that the couple had given vital clues about the racket and the use of funds for carrying out terror attacks in different parts of the country.

Sources said Jubair was employed in Saudi Arabia and returned to Mangalore about a year ago. The couple used to receive short text messages from Pakistan after every transaction in their bank accounts. Investigations have revealed that the transactions were made up to Rs 30 lakh at a time.

“The arrest of the beneficiaries and their subsequent interrogation would help the police establish the money trail,” the investigating officer said.

Director-general of police Abhayanand, who is closely monitoring the police operations, has clarified that the state police would seek help of the Interpol in the case.

New arrests

Md Arif and Mustaq

Arif is a BBA student
Mustaq is a contractor

Tipsters

• Ayesha Bano and her husband Jubair
• The duo are in the police custody at present