Bengal man held with fake Rs 2,000 notes

A 54-year-old man from West Bengal has been arrested here with fake currency of Rs 2,000 denomination having face value of over Rs 6 lakh, police said on Friday.

Mohammad Kashid, a resident of Malda, is a key member of an international syndicate dealing in Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN), police said.

He was arrested on Thursday following a tip-off when he came to deliver the consignment to a buyer in east Delhi's Anand Vihar locality.

"During investigation, it was found that the gang routed the fake currency through Malda in West Bengal and supplied it to its contacts in Delhi and National Capital Region, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states," Deputy Commissioner of Police P.K. Kushwah said.

"Of the money (with face value of Rs 6.60 lakh), it was found that 250 FICN bear a single serial number and other 80 are also of only four serial numbers.

"These notes are very similar in appearance and texture to the genuine Indian currency. Fine quality paper was used and security features have been inserted," Kushwah said.

Kashid revealed that he has been indulging in transportation and circulation of FICN for about 15 years and had supplied FICN to various buyers in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and other states.

"He also said that after demonetisation last year, supply of FICN was halted. But since the last four to five months, the supply has again picked up and the notes are being printed in a neighbouring country," the officer said.

"The fake currency is pumped in through bordering states and Malda has become a hub of FICN. Recently, the NIA also apprehended residents of Malda who had FICN with face value of about Rs 9 lakh," he added.

Efforts are on to nab the other gang members, he added.

--IANS

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