STF nabs FICN racketeer, seizes fake currency worth Rs 5L

Kolkata: Special Task Force of Kolkata Police has nabbed a Fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) racketeer from Gostho Paul Sarani near Eden Gardens on Monday evening.

On Monday morning, STF officials received information regarding an FICN racketeer of Bihar. In the afternoon, police became sure that the person was arriving at Kolkata soon.

Based on the tip, police personnel were deployed in and around Babughat bus terminus. At around 5 pm, STF personnel noticed the suspect and started following him.

When the suspect, identified as Vikash Kumar Das of Chhapra in Bihar, came near Eden Gardens, STF personnel surrounded him. During the subsequent search, police found a substantial amount of Rs 2,000 notes from him.

Das was then taken to Lalbazar, where police ascertained that the currency notes were fake. After counting the FICN, police found that he was carrying 250 such notes, amounting to Rs 5 lakh.

Later, a case was initiated against him and Das was arrested. Sources informed, however, that Das was only a carrier. Police suspect that FICN racketeers are trying to change their location of operation as since September, no racketeer has come to the city.

Earlier, FICN racketeers were usually residents of Malda. But recent trends show that some Bihar-based rackets are now getting active.