Ayisha Banu's brothers too involved in illegal money transaction?

Mangalore, Oct 14: The case of 36-year-old Ayisha Banu alias Aasha alias Puttoli, who was arrested by Bihar police in Mangalore earlier this week in connection with illegal money transactions, has taken a new twist with the accused admitting that she had opened bank accounts in nationalized banks in the names of her Hindu brothers and neighbours in Kodagu district.

Banu was born as Puttoli, the last of the eight children of Bheema and Kaveri. Her father died many years ago, while her mother earns a living as a daily wage worker. Puttoli has four brothers and three sisters.

She studied till PUC in Virajpet and later joined a college in Madikeri. According to Kaveri, she had changed her name only after marriage.

Case can take any turn!

The Bihar police were granted transit warrant of Ayisha Banu and her husband Zubair on Wednesday. JMFC III court judge Manjula gave the warrant that will enable the police to take the couple to Bihar for interrogation over suspected money transactions.

The two were questioned at the Court for about seven minutes and during this period the Judge is said to have asked the couple if the police have assaulted them and other questions pertaining to their arrest. After this, the Judge has given the permission to the police to take the couple to Bihar.

The development comes after the arrest of five Hindu extremists identified as Gopal, Vikas, Pawan and Ganesh, for illegal money transactions and alleged links with Pakistan's investigation agency ISI. According to Bihar police, during the interrogation several details on Ayesha Banu and  Zubeir were revealed by these accused. “Based on the same details Aisha Banu has been arrested,” said a police officer from Bihar.

However, with regard to the media reports that Ayisha Banu has contacts with terror outfits, the police source said that so far they have not been able to find any such details.

“The case can take any turn during the course of investigation. We will not be able to predict anything right away,” police said adding that Ayisha Banu has seven bank accounts in three nationalized banks.

“These accounts have been used to transfer over Rs 6 crores over the last one year. The four arrested in Bihar have transferred huge amount to same accounts but there is no details with regard to utilization of the said amount,” said the police.

Four-month old infant in Courtroom

Ayisha-Zubair couple has four children. While the first child is in high school, the other two are in primary. The couple has a four-month-old baby girl and while Ayisha appeared before the court with the infant in hand, the press photographers mobbed her to click her pictures. The onlookers could only sympathize with the mother and the baby. With no mistake of the infant, it will have to go through all the turmoil with her parents. The infant will have to live with the mother in the prison too.

Ambiguity in Cases

Lakhisarai sub inspector Raj Kishore, who was with the accused in court, said Ayisha was booked under IPC Sections 420 (cheating and dishonestly inducing delivery of property), 460 (house trespass or house-breaking by night punishable in case of death or grievous hurt caused), 468 (forgery for purpose of cheating), 471 (passing off a forged document as genuine) and 120b (criminal conspiracy). They have also been charged under Sections 17 (raising funds for terrorist act), 18 (b) (recruiting perons for terrorist acts), section 21 (holding proceeds of terrorism), 38 (membership of terrorist organization) and 40 (raising funds for terrorist organizations) of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act.

When asked about the ambiguity of police, who booked terrorism related cases against Ayisha Banu even after confirming that she was not arrested for any terror activity or link, investigating officer and Lakhisarai Superintendent of Police Rajeev Mishra said that the sections have been slammed to just to support the investigation process. The five arrested in Bihar are said to be having connections in Pakistan. During the investigation this aspect will be looked into,” he said.

One warrant, two arrests

The Judge has questioned the police as to how they have produced two persons with just one warrant. The police somehow managed to convince the Judge saying that they have got the two for preliminary investigations only.

Arrest on Monday?

It is said that Ayisha Banu has told the Judge that she was arrested on Monday night while the police documents state that she was nabbed on Tuesday at 4 pm.

The Public Prosecutor too has argued that the arrest was done on Tuesday. Bihar police had reached Mangalore on Saturday and with the help of Panambur and Kavoor police they nabbed Ayisha.

Mr Mishra said that Ayisha and Zubair will be taken to Bihar for further investigation. Ayisha's answer matches with the version of the neighbours that they had seen the family on Monday evening but on Tuesday morning the house was locked. Even the media persons saw a locked house on Tuesday morning with beedi leaves and tobacco left in the courtyard as it is.

While there was so much activity going on at the police quarters, Mangalore police personnel have been reacting that they have no information about the case because it is not connected to them.

Good relationship with neighbours

Ayisha-Zubair had been living at Panjimogaru on the outskirts of Mangalore since last two-and-half years. The house where the couple lived has worn a deserted look from Monday itself, leaving the neighbours wondering as to what has happened to the couple. The couple living in a rented house nearby before they shifted into their own house in Panjimogaru.

Area Corporator Dayananda Shetty said that the couple had two beedi collection branches. “While the lady hailed from Madikeri, the man was from Bajpe. They maintained good relations with the neighbours. But, they were missing since Monday. Nobody was sure about what has happened to the two,” Mr Shetty said adding that nobody should tag the two as culprits before investigations are over and the fact is proved.

Ayyoob Haji, neighbour of Ayisha says that the family has been living in the house for more than a year and all this while they have never suspected anything fishy.

“While we saw that the lights were on the other day, the family was not seen from Monday. We did not know as to where they went and who took them. We have not come to know of any terror activities here and we are not the ones who will support such acts,” says Mr Ayyoob.