A Syrian man was arrested in Gujarat for allegedly raising fake Gaza relief funds to support a lavish lifestyle, while three accomplices remain on the run. Police are probing how the group used mosques to collect donations and tracking the flow of money.
Police in Gujarat have arrested a Syrian national accused of raising money in the name of Gaza victims and using it for personal luxury. Three of his associates remain at large. The accused, identified as Ali Meghat Al-Azhar, 23, of Damascus, was nabbed from a hotel in Ahmedabad’s Ellis Bridge area, said Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Sharad Singhal. Authorities recovered $3,600 and Rs 25,000 in cash from him.
The three absconding suspects were identified as Zakaria Haitham Alzar, Ahmed Alhabash and Yousef Al-Zahar, all Syrian nationals who had been staying in the same hotel.
Police have issued lookout notices to prevent them from leaving India.
According to investigators, the men entered India on tourist visas, landing in Kolkata on July 22 before travelling to Ahmedabad on August 2. They allegedly visited mosques in the city, showing videos of starving families in Gaza to solicit donations, but police said no evidence was found that the money ever reached Gaza.
“It is a matter of investigation why they first went to Kolkata and then came here, and if they are really into fund-raising or doing a recce for some other purpose. Recovery of US dollars and some digital transactions also raise suspicion. We are now scanning CCTV footage of the area to know more about their movements and links,” Singhal said.
“Prima facie, it appears they were here to do a recce and were in touch with suspicious people,” he added, as quoted by PTI. Officials added that the cash, foreign currency and digital transactions recovered raised further doubts about their activities.
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorism Squad and National Investigation Agency have joined the probe to determine the group’s intent and track where the collected funds were sent. CCTV footage from the area is also being reviewed.
A police statement said the arrested man admitted the funds were used to support the group’s “lavish lifestyle”, in violation of their visa conditions. Authorities have begun proceedings to blacklist and deport him.
