Turkish nationals who smuggled fake currency in bus convicted

Two Turkish nationals have been sentenced to seven years in jail by a Special court here for smuggling fake currency having face value of Rs 1.5 crore hidden into India in their Mercedes bus which they drove from Turkey to Bangladesh for the purpose, the CBI said today.

"The ASJ, Karkardooma Courts, Delhi has convicted Huseyin Korogulu and Mehmet Yaman, both Turkish nationals and one Mohd Anwar, resident of Muzaffarnagar (Uttar Pradesh) and sentenced them to undergo seven years rigorous imprisonment with fine of Rs Two Lakh each for possession of Fake Indian Currency Notes," CBI Spokesperson R K Gaur said here.

He said a Mercedes bus bearing number 34 LZ 187, registered in Turkey, was intercepted by the CBI and DRI in Delhi in 2011 from which Fake Indian Currency Notes of Rs 500 denomination, having face value of Rs 1.54 crore were recovered in the cooling unit of the bus located near the rear tyre.

The fake notes were found packed in six rectangular paper boxes of similar size which were wrapped with mustard coloured paper by the accused persons.

"During investigation, it was also revealed that Korogulu, a Turkish national also the owner of the said bus, along with his associate Yaman drove the said bus all the way from Turkey to Pakistan and then reached Bangladesh," he said.

It was alleged that after obtaining the FICNs in Bangladesh, the accused entered India through Petrapole Border separating in West Bengal.

"In India, their other associate Mohd Anwar, a resident of District-Muzaffarnagar(Uttar Pradesh) joined them in India to receive the consignment of FICN in India. All the accused were arrested in the case on 06.06.2011 and in Judicial Custody since their arrest," he said.