Police detain three with Rs 60 lakh in Satara

Police today intercepted a car and detained three traders with Rs 60 lakh in denomination of Rs 2000 in Satara in western Maharashtra.
Police suspect the trio, who hail from Kolhapur, could be part of a racket involved in exchanging banned currencies of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 for valid ones by charging a premium.
On a specific information about the activities of the trio, Satara crime branch officials laid a trap near a flyover in Bombay Restaurant Chowk and intercepted the car.
After searching the vehicle, police found 3000 pieces of Rs 2000 tender worth Rs 60 lakh.
"We suspect a racket is active in exchanging old scrapped notes for new ones by charging a commission of 30 to 40 per cent. Investigation is going on accordingly," Satara Superintendent of Police Sandeep Patil said.

The trio are identified as Sagar Aarde (45), Bhagwan Bhople ((50) and Umesh Kamble (48).
"We are questioning them to know the source from where they got such a large number of new bills," Patil said, adding the help of Income Tax department is taken into the matter.