Sambalpur: Town police busted a fake currency racket after arresting six youths in this connection during raids at Farm Road and GM University area in the town Sunday, the police said Monday.
Police seized 11,700 counterfeit notes and two motorcycles from their possession, said Sadar sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Brahmananda Gagarin Mohanty at a press meet held at Town police station.
What startled the investigators is that the network of the racket extends from Bhubaneswar to Sambalpur as the fake notes were dispatched here from the capital city, he said.
The accused were identified as Bairagi Nayak (38) of Barapada village under Chhendipada police limits in Angul district, Mandardhar Pradhan (52) of Anantpalli village under Athamallik police limits, Rasananda Nayak (48) of Bahali village, Prakash Kumar Nayak (44) of Ankula village, Shatrughna Dhal (55) of Jamjuri village under Naktideula police limits in Sambalpur district and Santosh Sahu (53) of Mudipada in the town.
A case was registered in this connection and the accused were produced in a court Monday, Mohanty said.
The matter came to fore when Santosh went to a betel shop at Farm Road and demanded change from the shopkeeper after handing him a fake note of Rs 500 denomination.
The shop owner pulled up Santosh after he found the note fake. However, Santosh showed him a number of notes by claiming them to be original. The shop owner raising doubts informed the matter to Town police.
Police rushed to the spot and detained Santosh for interrogation. He confessed to have brought the money from Shatrughna alias Baba of Jamjuri village, who currently stays in GM University area. Police immediately raided the area and arrested Shatrughna, Prakash, Rasananda, Mandardhara and Bairagi.
They were brought over to the police station where they admitted to their crime during interrogation. Police seized counterfeit notes of Rs 1,900 from Shatrughna, Rs 600 from Rasananda and Rs 1700 from Prakash.
A bike without having any registration number was seized from Mandardhar while a bike having registration number (OR-19F-1762) was seized from Bairagi’s possession.
Prakash admitted to have brought the fake notes from the mastermind of the racket living in Bhubaneswar who gives them Rs 5000 fake notes in exchange of Rs 1000 genuine notes. They use the fake notes in buying and selling goods in Sambalpur town and on its outskirts.
Further investigation into the matter is on and soon other members of the racket including the mastermind will be arrested, the SDPO said. PNN
