The Hindu : New Delhi News : Currency smuggler in DRI net

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Sunday, Mar 30, 2008
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Currency smuggler in DRI net

Devesh K. Pandey

2,600 fake notes of Rs.500 denominations allegedly seized

He was also allegedly involved in smuggling of various articles from Pakistan
Notes are of fine quality and difficult to distinguish from real: Officials

NEW DELHI: A big-time smuggler who was allegedly circulating counterfeit currency notes has been arrested by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence at Khajoori Khas here. The agency claims to have seized Rs.13.36 lakh in fake notes from the accused.

The DRI recently received inputs about a man who apart from smuggling in various articles from Pakistan was involved in the fake currency notes business. The agency found that the suspect was in constant touch with the fake currency suppliers based in Pakistan.

The DRI sleuths then learnt that the suspect would hand over a consignment to a contact near the Wazirabad bridge at Khajoori Khas on March 26. A trap was laid and the accused arrested with the consignment. Over 2,600 notes of Rs.500 denominations were allegedly found in his possession.

“The notes are of fine quality and difficult to distinguish from the real,” said an official, refusing to divulge the identity of the accused saying raids were being conducted to arrest the others involved in the racket.

During interrogation, the accused purportedly disclosed that he was mainly engaged in smuggling of goods from Pakistan and had been active for the past two decades. Recently he came into contact with some persons who offered him handsome cuts for distributing fake notes smuggled in from Pakistan. “We have sufficient evidence to prove that he had strong links with those operating from Pakistan. He worked at the distribution level and had been forwarding the consignments to various places in western Uttar Pradesh,” the official said, adding that the accused was produced in a Delhi court that sent him to 14-day judicial custody.

Last November the DRI had arrested in Jodhpur a 50-year-old woman and her son belonging to Bulandshahr allegedly with Rs.20 lakh in fake notes. The notes were smuggled on board the Thar Express, concealed in the soles of slippers brought from Pakistan. The accused had gone to Pakistan to attend a function organised by their relatives. In another racket smashed in June 2007, the Delhi police had arrested three persons with Rs.33 lakh in fake notes concealed in thread rolls.

Investigations revealed that the consignment had been brought from Pakistan and all the accused were residents of western UP.

Last May the police had arrested a father-son duo and their woman friend allegedly with Rs.5.40 lakh in fake notes that were procured from Mumbai and were destined for Muzaffarnagar.

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