Fake currency racket busted, five arrested

Thanks to the presence of mind exhibited by two traffic police personnel, deployed at Charholi in Vishrantwadi, officials of the Vishrantwadi police station were able to bust a fake currency racket.

Thorough check: Senior Inspector Sudhakar Kate of the Vishrantwadi police station takes a closer look at a bundle of fake notes confiscated from the five accused on Wednesday

Officials arrested five accused and confiscated fake currency worth Rs 1.5 lakh in denominations of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000. They said all the accused were from West Bengal. They were identified as Mizarul Shaikh, Tarik Ajij Shaikh, Jiyarul Mandol, Hasirul Mandol and Bakool Shaikh.

"On Wednesday around 11.30 am, our constables Nisar Khan and Nirnay Lande were manning the traffic at the busy Dehu Phata Road when they spotted two people arguing with an auto rickshaw driver over change. The passengers had given the driver Rs 500 against the fare of Rs 50.

But started arguing with the driver when he said he lacked change," said sub-inspector Sachin Kale of the Vishrantwadi police station. Since they were arguing right in the middle of the road, Khan and Lande decided to intervene so that the traffic movement could be restored. But the moment the two passengers saw the police approaching in their direction, they fled the spot.

"Lande and Khan sensed something was amiss and decided to pursue the duo. Simultaneously, they alerted a patrolling team and the duo was nabbed," Kale said. On searching the duo, the cops recovered about Rs 7,000. A detailed inspection revealed that the notes were fake.

"During interrogation, we discovered that a gang of five, including the arrested accused, had come to the city to flood the market with fake currency." Kale said. Based on the information provided by the duo, Senior Inspector Sudhakar Kate laid a trap and arrested the remaining three and confiscated counterfeit currency worth Rs 1.5 lakh from them. Kate said they are now investigating the source of the fake currency and a team would be despatched to West Bengal for further investigation.u00a0