The Hindu : New Delhi News : Currency racket busted; 2 held

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Saturday, Apr 19, 2008
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New Delhi

Currency racket busted; 2 held

Staff Reporter

Fake notes were smuggled through Bangladesh border
Being smuggled by a Pakistan’s ISI-backed outfit

NEW DELHI: Two men have been arrested by the Special Cell of the Delhi Police on charges of circulating counterfeit currency notes smuggled in through the Indo-Bangladesh border. The police claim to have seized Rs.1.80 lakh in fake notes from them.

The Special Cell in Delhi recently received inputs about fake currency being smuggled in from Bangladesh by a Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI)-backed outfit. Investigations revealed that the notes were being brought to West Bengal for distribution across the country. Acting on a tip-off that a person involved in the racket would come to the Patparganj Industrial Area in East Delhi to deliver a consignment on Thursday afternoon, a team under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police L.N. Rao laid a trap around the rendezvous point.

As the contact did not turn up to receive the consignment, the suspect was arrested when he was leaving. The police claim to have seized Rs.1.70 lakh in fake notes from him.

He identified himself as Mohammad Iqbal, a native of Amroha in Uttar Pradesh. Based on his purported disclosure, the police arrested his accomplice Furkan, who belongs to Bijnore. The police claim to have seized Rs.10,000 in fake currency from Furkan.

During interrogation, Furkan purportedly told the police that he worked in a carpet factory at Panipat in Haryana as a supervisor. A few months ago he came into contact with Yakoob who introduced him to the counterfeit currency business. Initially Yakoob gave small amounts to Furkan for circulation.

Furkan allegedly disclosed to the police that Yakoob used to bring the fake notes from West Bengal and the gang had so far brought Rs.25 lakh in counterfeit currency.

Iqbal said he too worked in a handloom factory at Panipat in Haryana. He was roped in allegedly by Furkan. The police have launched a hunt for Yakoob and the other members of the gang.

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