MUMBAI: The city police have stepped up vigilance after several seizures of high quality counterfeit currency notes with face value of of ₹2,000 from West Bengal.
Since January this year, there have been three instances in which West Bengal police or the Border Security Force (BSF) have seized fake ₹2,000 notes, allegedly smuggled into the State across the Indo-Bangladesh border. In the latest instance on Wednesday, the BSF and National Investigation Agency (NIA) intercepted a consignment of counterfeit notes worth ₹2 lakh. The notes are said to be of high quality, with at least eight of the 17 security features compromised.
Police said West Bengal has been the hub for fake currency, from where it is sent to different parts of the country to be circulated, including Mumbai. The cash is sent in large consignments to three or four people in Mumbai, who distribute it among their accomplices.
Mumbai Commissioner of Police D.D. Padsalgikar told The Hindu that the seizures are definite indications that the new notes have been successfully counterfeited. “We have taken appropriate steps to find out if these notes are making their way into the city. Information gathering and vigilance have been stepped up.”
The traditional modus operandi for circulating fake currency, as observed by the police over the years, has been to smuggle it into the city by train or road. The currency is hidden in false bottoms of duffel bags or among clothes and other innocuous items, and distributed among several ‘dispensers’ from a designated point.
These dispensers visit crowded commercial areas like Crawford Market, Dadar and Mira Road, where they make purchases for small amounts and pay with the fake notes. The change they get in return is an added incentive to the commission given by the counterfeit racketeers. As this mode of smuggling has proved effective, police mostly rely on tip-offs.
Joint Commissioner of Police Sanjay Saxena said, “We have been invoking the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act wherever applicable in fake currency seizures. Recently, it was observed that consignments of fake currency were being delivered to the outskirts. If the value of the fake currency is not high enough, it becomes difficult to invoke UAPA.” He added the Crime Branch will be seeking information about the latest seizure from the NIA.
