Reward Money: SP Ashik Jagai Appears Before the FCC This Wednesday

Superintendent of Police Ashik Jagai, former head of the defunct Special Striking Team (SST), has been summoned by the Financial Crimes Commission (FCC) this Wednesday. He is expected to explain the controversial management of millions of rupees in Reward Money, funds designated for compensating informants from August 2022 until the dissolution of the unit he led in November 2024.

After the arrest of several high-ranking officials, it is now Ashik Jagai's turn to face questioning. He is expected at the FCC on Wednesday, August 13, 2025, as part of the ongoing investigation into allegations of misconduct surrounding the Reward Money within the police force.

Jagai is required to provide explanations regarding sums totaling millions of rupees claimed by his unit, with the stated aim of compensating informants from August 2022 until its dissolution in November 2024. The FCC has officially delivered the summons to Ashik Jagai, who is anticipated to appear with his lawyer. His entourage has confirmed the summons but prefers to refrain from commenting at this time, wishing to first understand the specific facts before making any statements.

The FCC's investigation concerns approximately Rs 250 million in Reward Money, with several law enforcement members suspected of being involved in the case. Just on Friday, August 8, 2025, Sergeant Yusuf Ali Hamud Hossen, a former member of the PHQ SST and designated manager of the Reward Money, was arrested. The FCC suspects him of having received the following amounts from the Reward Money Fund into his personal bank account: Rs 65,890,000 between August 25, 2022, and February 5, 2024, and Rs 17,301,000 between April 5, 2024, and September 2, 2024, totaling approximately Rs 83.19 million.

Assistant Police Commissioner (ACP) Dunraz Gangadin, who oversaw the PHQ SST, was arrested on July 24, 2025. He remains in custody and is facing charges for suspicious transactions totaling Rs 160.3 million that flowed through his bank account. His interrogation, along with that of Sergeant Hossen, is ongoing.

Money Laundering

ASP Faraaz Mooniaruth (from the Crime Intelligence Unit) and Sergeant Yeshdeo Seeboruth (from Police Headquarters) are currently out on bail. The former is accused of improperly approving a bonus of Rs 3 million for the latter. Sergeant Seeboruth was arrested for money laundering, with suspicious transactions totaling Rs 19.3 million detected in his personal account.

There was also the arrest of ACP Lilram Deal, who was later released on bail. He is accused of having received Rs 4.5 million related to the Kistnah and Gurroby cases. At that time, he was leading the Counter Terrorism Unit, while the operations involving the Reward Money requests for these cases were conducted by the Anti-Drug and Smuggling Unit.

An investigator from the defunct SST: "I was unaware there had been claims during the operations I conducted"

During a hearing on Tuesday with the FCC, an investigator from the former PHQ SST claimed he had never received or requested Reward Money related to operations conducted with his own informants. During his testimony, he explained that he led several interventions for the defunct unit, some based on information obtained directly from his informants. "I did not know there had been claims during operations I conducted," he stated. He insisted he had never benefited from funds intended to compensate these informants. Following his interrogation, this officer was permitted to leave the FCC premises.