The police have intensified investigation into the case in which fake currency and printing machines were seized from the house of a Yuva Morcha leader at Mathilakam.
The police arrested Rakesh,31, a Yuva Morcha worker, in connection with fake-currency printing on Thursday. Currency notes worth ₹1.37 lakh and printing machines were seized from his house at Anchamparuthy, near Mathilakam.
A case was registered against his brother Rajeev too, who is an OBC Morcha leader. The police are searching for Rajeev, who is absconding.
The police conducted a raid on Rakesh’s house as part of ‘Operation Kubera’ in the district. There was a complaint that he and his brother were collecting exorbitant interest on loans.
During the raid, the police seized a multicolour printer, scanner, currency cutter, ink, printing paper, and laptop from his house. They also found stamp papers, promissory notes, and copies of title deeds.
The fake currency notes were printed in a room on the top floor of Rakesh’s house. Fake currency notes of denominations 2000, 500, 50 and 20 were found from here. There were A4 sheets in which counter currencies were printed.
The police are investigating about the financial sources and dealings of Rakesh, who is an active member of Yuva Morcha. He is also BJP booth president of Anchamparuthy.
During interrogation Rakesh said he brought a new colour printer two weeks back. He used the counter currency for buying lottery, provisions and to fill petrol. The illiterate fish workers of the coastal belt and lottery vendors were most of their victims.
Rakesh, who completed computer education, had worked in the Gulf for some time. Though he does not have any job, Rakesh used to lead a luxurious life, according to local people.
The police suspect that his brother Rajeev, an OBC Morcha activist, too has involvement in the case. It is alleged that Rajesh tried to pay fake currency at a local petrol pump recently. The police are investigating whether there more people involved in it.
Meanwhile the photos of Rakesh with BJP state leaders have been circulating in social media. It is creating the suspicion that though he was a booth level leader he is close to many leaders. Ironically, some of the BJP posters against black money appeared in Mathilakam area contained his photo along with other BJP leaders.
Rajesh and Rajeev were also involved in some crime cases too, according to the police. Police are also checking an allegation that Rakesh was involved in a visa fraud sometimes back.
Meanwhile, CPI(M) district secretary K. Radhakrishnan has demanded a high-level investigation into the case. “Investigation should not be restricted into this case alone. It should be checked whether more BJP leaders are involved in fake currency production. Lots of money has been flowing into the campaigns of BJP, RSS and Yuva Morcha. The police should investigate the sources of this funding,” he asked.
District Congress Committee (DCC) president T.N. Prathapan has also demanded investigation into the financial sources of the BJP-Sangh Parivar programmes against the backdrop of seizure of fake currency from the Yuva Morcha leaders’ house.
