New Delhi, July 08: A gang allegedly smuggling fake currency from Pakistan was busted with the arrest of five youths, the police said on Tuesday. Rs 10.57 lakh in counterfeit notes were recovered from them.
The police said the arrested youths were in regular touch with their Pakistani contacts and that the fake notes were transported to India through planes, trains and buses.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime Branch) Neeraj Thakur said: “Shan Mohd (21), Mohd Naim (22) and Mohd Shahrukh (21), all residents of Ghaziabad, were caught from near West Delhi’s Rajouri Garden Metro Station on July 1, while Vipin Gupta (25) and Omvir Singh (22) were caught from the Jehangirpuri area.”
Gupta and Singh allegedly acted as local contacts for the Ghaziabad youths and were allegedly circulating counterfeit currency in the Capital.
“The gang, headed by Shan Mohd and Mohd Naim, is well established in the circulation of fake notes. They have been in regular touch with their accomplices in Pakistan,” Thakur said.
Shan Mohd was released from Tihar Jail three months ago, after spending two years in prison in a fake currency case, while Naim, who was also in jail, was released in 2008. “Crime Branch had their activities under regular surveillance since their release from jail,” the DCP said.
A police officer was allegedly used as a decoy to strike a deal for the purchase of counterfeit notes at 50 per cent discount, after which the arrests were made.
The accused allegedly revealed that they had recently gone to Nepal to bring back a fresh consignment of fake notes by train. A police team went to Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh but, on the way back, the accused changed their plans and travelled to Bulandshahr by bus.
–Agencies