Iranian couple, kin detained under suspicious circumstances

Nagpur: Three Iranian nationals, including a couple and their kin, were detained under suspicion by Wadi police on Wednesday while they were purchasing raw chicken at Dawlamethi. The three claimed to be on their way to Mumbai and were about to enter Nagpur.
Unconfirmed sources claimed a fourth person fled the scene as onlookers gathered before cops reached the place. The three were found with substantial foreign currency, including Iranian, Columbian and so on. The foreign nationals had also taken out some foreign currency at the chicken shop too, it’s learnt.
Though the couple and their kin had valid passports, visa (tourist) and other documents, like international driving licenses, the cops quizzed them at length after many of their claims were found untenable. The three claim to have reached Delhi from Baghdad on September 26. The couple was in their 50s while their kin is in late 30s. The family deals in properties, it’s learnt.
Though the three were allowed to spend the night at a hotel on Wednesday, senior officers from police, and other intelligence and security agencies, including state Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), grilled them through the day on Thursday at Wadi police station.
CP Amitesh Kumar said the three had arrived at New Delhi and claim to have embarked upon a road trip across India with valid documents, but inquiries are still on. “We are still questioning the Iranian nationals on some security issues and concerns. No conclusion has been reached,” he said.
It’s learnt the three had hired a car from a tour and travel company in Delhi. After moving around in some states, the Iranian nationals had entered Chhattisgarh.
After spending some time in Raipur, the three had entered Maharashtra. They had reached the outskirts of Nagpur via Kanhan. Sources said the three had visited several countries in the past, including Nepal.
The cops were suspicious why the Iranian nationals were purchasing raw chicken, when they were spending most of the time travelling. The cops have also confirmed that the foreign nationals did not have any utensils or crockery with them. The three were using local SIMs procured from Delhi.
The various intelligence and security agencies have checked CCTV footage of the places the three foreign nationals claim to have visited. The three also claimed to have some relatives in India, whom they had come to meet. The cops are now verifying the claims made by them.