Central Crime Branch officials on Monday arrested six persons trying to strike a deal to circulate fake notes near the flyover in Mahadevapura.
Based on a tip-off, a team intercepted a car at B. Narayanapura junction, close to the flyover. There were six persons inside. On checking, the sleuths found fake currency with a face value of Rs. 9.13 lakh and Rs. 1.72 lakh in cash. “The CCB team seized the car and 10 mobile phones from the men. There were 399 notes of Rs. 1,000 denomination and 1,028 of Rs. 500 denominations in their possession, besides the cash,” Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Chandrashekhar said.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the fake currency originated from Pakistan. “It was printed in Pakistan and transported to Bangladesh from where it was smuggled into the country through the porous border in Malda district of West Bengal,” an officer said.
The arrested persons revealed that they were in touch with two men, Ishaq and Shanawaz, who are in a Kolkata prison. It was the duo who introduced them to Ajju, Akhul and Munir alias Mamu, who are the alleged kingpins of the fake currency circulation racket.
Police identified the arrested persons as Afroze (41) of Gowribidanur, Chickballapur district; Sabir Ali alias Babu (23) and Masood (18) from West Bengal; Asifulla Khan and Mahidulla Khan from Mysuru; and Syed Asif of KG Halli in Bengaluru east. They are a small group of a bigger racket, sources in the police said.
