Date:03/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/03/stories/2008080359740300.htm

Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad

Pakistan-made fake currency seized

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: City police on Saturday busted a counterfeit currency racket, allegedly being operated with the backing of Pakistan’s Inter Services Intelligence, by arresting two persons from a lodge in Secunderabad.

Fake currency notes, with a face value of Rs. 1.94 lakh, were seized from the arrested, Barjahan and Tariq-ul-Islam.

The accused hailed from Chitayana village in West Bengal, close to the Bangladesh border.

The Gopalpuram police Inspector P.V. Muralidhar told reporters that the arrested persons used to procure the fake currency from Bola Shaik living in a village near the Bangladesh border.

“According to them, the counterfeit currency was supplied by a Bangladeshi Ata-ur-Rahman,” the Inspector explained.

Large network

Mr. Rahman, with the alleged support of the ISI, developed a strong network to circulate fake currency racket across the country.

The arrested duo claimed that the fake notes, all in the denomination of Rs. 1,000, were made in Pakistan.

On a tip-off, police raided the Indian lodge in Secunderabad and caught the accused. Few weeks ago, the Commissioner’s Task Force officials picked up members of a gang near the Bangladesh border on similar charge.

A probe was on to ascertain if there were any links between the duo and those held earlier.