Police busted yet another gang circulating Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICNs), printed in Pakistan and smuggled into India via Dubai and Bangladesh, by arresting two persons in Delhi on Thursday.
The National Investigation Agency's Hyderabad unit officials seized FICNs having face value of Rs. 9.85 lakh from the arrested, Imran, and his cousin, Jenab, both hailing from Kairana of Uttar Pradesh.
Leads about the fresh FICN module came while the NIA sleuths were tracking the FICN racket which they busted three months ago by arresting persons from Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal.
The kingpins of that racket were based in Malda of West Bengal. Out of the 22 accused in that case, 14 were arrested earlier and hunt was on for the remaining when the NIA officials got a tip-off about circulation of the FICNs by Imran and Jenab.
“The mastermind behind the racket, Iqbal Kana, from Kairana of U.P., is operating from Pakistan. He is smuggling these FICNs printed in Pakistan into India,” NIA Additional SP, I.R.S. Murthy, Chief Investigation Officer of the case, said. Kana sent the FICN consignment from Pakistan to Dubai. From there, Kana's associate, Mohd. Ashraf, sent the fake notes to his agents in Bangalore.
Packed in tea bags
The FICNs packed in tea bags were transported to Delhi from where Imran and Jenab collected them. The duo is a core group of Ashraf's network.
Police believe interrogation of the duo would give them crucial clues about other members of the gang who are operating from different cities of the country.
Hunt is on for their associates in Bangalore.
