Begi then made a telephone call to Sweety Singh, who asked him to reach Mumbai Central and from there to make a call on a particular number and inform one of the hawala operators that Patel had sent the money, according to the sources.

'This event occurred in the presence of independent witnesses and their statements have been duly recorded. In between, Sweety Singh called Begi and asked him if he had reached the spot,' a senior CBI official said, not wishing to be identified.

'Begi reached Mumbai Central and called the hawala operator, who directed him to come near the Harkisandas Hospital. The hawala operator then escorted Begi to a shop on the VP Road in Mumbai Central. The CBI then arrested the two of them while they were counting the cash,' the official added.

The sources said the hawala operator in his interrogation revealed he was being instructed by a Bangalore-based hawala operator to accept the amount. The Bangalore-based man is still absconding.

'After the interrogation, we further conducted searches at Mumbai, Pune, Bangalore and New Delhi. And the other two accused were also arrested. Sweety Singh was detained in Delhi Thursday evening and was taken to Mumbai,' the official added.