Fake Rs 2,000 notes worth Rs 8.4 lakh seized, four held

New Delhi: The Special Cell of Delhi Police on Wednesday said it busted an international racket of fake Indian currency notes (FICN) with the arrest of four men, and recovered fake notes of Rs 2,000 denomination worth Rs 8.48 lakh which were routed in India through Nepal and Bangladesh.

At first sight, it is difficult to distinguish the recovered fake notes from the original ones, as they even have security features like watermark.

Cops said the accused were identified as Farooq (27), Shariful Islam (21), Asif Raj (27) and Mukhtiar Ahmed (28).

On November 21, acting on a tip-off, cops nabbed Farooq from Siri Fort road bus stand and later Shariful Islam. Islam revealed to cops that he used to supply FICNs to another contact Asif Raj, who was subsequently nabbed as well.

"Mukhtiar Ahmed was arrested on Wednesday morning from Anand Vihar railway station," police said, adding that the arrest was made by a team formed under Assistant Commissioner of Police (Special Cell), Attar Singh.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (Special Cell) Pramod Kushwaha said that the four men have been involved in FICN circulation since the last about eight years.

The arrested men disclosed that since demonetisation in November 2016, they have circulated more than Rs 60-70 lakh of fame notes in different states.

"Asif had been arrested thrice in various cases of FICN in Haryana, Bihar and Delhi. He was first arrested by Bihar Police in 2015 and FICN worth Rs 50,000 was recovered from him," said Kushwaha, adding that Asif was again arrested in 2015 by Gurugram Police.

Cops added that Mukhtiar Ahmed is a citizen of Nepal, who used to work as a transport labourer.

Gradually, he started supplying FICNs to his counterparts in India and used to procure FICNs from one Zamil Akhtar for circulation in India through Asif Raj.