In a significant operation against counterfeit currency, the Halasur Gate Police have arrested five individuals for printing and circulating fake Rs 2,000 notes worth Rs 52.40 lakh. The racket came to light after a complaint was lodged by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), leading to the arrest of key figures involved in the illegal operation.
The arrested suspects include Afzal Hussain (29), a granite businessman from Bellary, Praseeth (47) from Puducherry, Mohammad Afnas (34) from Kerala, Nuruddin alias Anwar (34), and Priyesh (34), a printing press owner. The investigation began when Afzal Hussain attempted to exchange fake Rs 2,000 notes at an RBI branch on Nripatunga Road on September 9. Upon verification, the notes were found to be counterfeit, prompting the RBI to alert the authorities and file a complaint with the police.
Afzal Hussain, who runs a granite business in Bellary, had accumulated a debt of Rs 25 lakh to his business associate Nooruddin from Kerala. Instead of paying off his debt with legitimate currency, Nooruddin allegedly offered him fake Rs 2,000 notes. The notes were printed by Priyesh, a printing press owner based in Kasaragod, Kerala. Priyesh had been operating his press for over 20 years and had previously been arrested by Mangalore Cyber Crime Police for similar offenses.
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Following Hussain’s arrest, the police launched a coordinated operation that led to the capture of the other four individuals involved in the counterfeit currency racket. Police seized an additional Rs 27.72 lakh in fake Rs 2,000 notes along with two mobile phones during the raid.
Priyesh, the mastermind behind the printing operation, sourced special paper and materials from Calicut to produce the fake currency notes. Nooruddin and Mohammad Afnas were responsible for circulating the counterfeit notes. They allegedly filmed the fake notes and shared videos via WhatsApp to recruit others into the illegal operation.
The police have confirmed that the counterfeit currency network extended beyond Kerala and has been operating across multiple states. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities looking to uncover the full extent of the operation and identify other individuals involved in circulating fake notes.
This case highlights the continuing efforts by the RBI and law enforcement agencies to tackle the growing menace of counterfeit currency, particularly with the emergence of fake Rs 2,000 notes. The police have urged the public to stay vigilant and report any suspicious currency-related activities.
All five accused individuals are currently in police custody, and further interrogation is underway to track down additional suspects and assess the full scope of the fake currency racket.