Hubballi: Probably it is the biggest seizure of fake currency after demonetization. The Dandeli Rural police have unearthed a fake currency racket in the wee hours of Tuesday and arrested six men for involving in printing, selling, buying and circulating fake notes. The police have allegedly seized counterfeit currency notes worth Rs 70 lakh from their possession.
Two Dandeli-based persons were arrested for printing and selling the fake notes and the other four accused of allegedly buying the fake ones for the original notes.
The two buyers were from Ratnagiri in Maharashtra, and two from Belagavi, who came to Dandeli to get the counterfeit currencies for original currencies from the Dandeli-based accused.
The police team led by Dandeli Rural PSI IR Gaddekar arrested the accused based on a definite-tip off.
The accused have been identified as Kiran Madhukar Desai, Girish Lingappa both residents of Ratnagiri, Amar Mohan Nayak, Sagar Pundalik Kunnur both residents of Belagavi, Shabbir alias Anthony Kutti, Shivaji Kamble both residents of Dandeli.
Uttar Kannada District Superintendent of Police Shiva Prakash Devaraju told hubliexpress.com that the police team led by PSI Gaddekar around 2 PM on Tuesday intercepted a car on credible information at Barchi Check Post. When the police stopped the car, Shabbir escaped from the car and ran away.
But they were able to nab Kiran and Girish and during the search of the car, they found counterfeit currency worth Rs 9 lakh and Rs 4.5 lakh original currency also packed in a bag. And during the initial inquiry, they found that the accused came to Dandeli to buy fake currency worth Rs 9 lakh exchange for the genuine currency worth Rs 4 lakhs.
The police got the information that another car was following as a backup, and the team was successful in arresting two accused, Amar and Sagar. The police then took them into custody and later arrested Shabbir who was on the run, said the SP.
During the interrogation of these accused, the police discovered that another accused, Shivaji, a resident of Vanasrinagar, Dandeli was also involved in it. The police team conducted a raid on his residence and secured him.
The police during the raid seized Rs 62 lakh fake currency notes having Rs 2,000, Rs 500 and Rs 200 denominations and unfinished printed notes which were on different stages of printing and processing.
The police also seized blank papers, ink, cutting machine and other materials the accused used to make counterfeit currencies, said the Superintendent of Police.
SP Shiva Prakash Devaraju said they are trying to establish contact with their counterparts in Maharashtra and other places to find out their antecedents and involvement.
The SP appreciated the excellent work by DSP Dandeli Ganesh, CPI Prabhu, PSI’s PSI’Gadekar, Psi Yellalinga, PSI, Town Yellappa and staff of Dandeli town and rural police station.
