Interstate gang dealing in fake currency busted in north Chhattisgarh

BILASPUR: Surajpur police of north Chhattisgarh have busted an interstate gang dealing in fake currency. Five persons have been arrested in this connection and fake currency notes worth Rs 77500 have been confiscated from the accused. While four persons, including a woman, were arrested on Thursday, one was arrested on Friday. Surguja IG Himanshu Gupta has announced cash rewards for Surajpur police.
Speaking to TOI additional SP Surajpur Manisha Thakur informed that during preliminary interrogation the gang members have confessed to have been involved in business of fake currency for the last several years and have circulated fake currency worth lakhs of rupees in rural markets and fairs.
She further informed that one such fair is held at Kudargarh in April every year. This particular fair attracts lakhs of visitors from all the surrounding districts. Dinesh Kumar Jaiswal, a resident of village Gangoti of Surajpur district, had put up a shop in Kudargarh fair this year. On April 20, a man visited Jaiswal’s shop and made some purchases for which he paid with a note of Rs 1000. Jaiswal got suspicious about the note as soon as he touched it. As he began examining the said note a little closely, the man who had given it began to run from the spot. Jaiswal then tried to catch the man, but in the milling crowd could not do so.
In the meanwhile, while trying to run away the man’s wallet dropped and Jaiswal picked it up. Jaiswal found some more suck fake notes in the purse along with an identity of one Shahabuddin son of Rahmat Shiekh Iraki, resident of village Tantiathar of tehsil Ramanujgunj in Balrampur district. Jaiswal reported the matter to the temporary police control room at Kudargarh fair. Surajpur SP Prakhar Pandey was immediately informed about the matter, who directed additional SP Manisha Thakur and other staff to investigate.
A police team soon found the accused on the basis of the description given by shopkeeper Jaiswal. The accused along with three others were staying near a school close to the fair ground. The accused were identified as Shahabuddin alias Abdul Rehman (32), Wahid Ali (29), a resident of village Kurludeeh under Sanawal police station of Balrampur district, Mataparasad Gond (35), resident of village Tatiathar under Sanawal police station of Balrampur district and Dhanpatia Gond, wife of Shahabuddin.
Police recovered 16 fake notes of Rs 1000 denomination and four fake notes of Rs 500 denomination along with Rs 13050 from possession of Shahabuddin, one fake note of Rs 1000 and four such notes of Rs 500 denomination from Wahid Ali’s possession, four fake notes of Rs 1000 denomination along with Rs 940 from Mataprasad and one fake note of Rs 500 along with Rs 52000 from Dhanpatia’s possession.
During preliminary investigations Shahabuddin informed police that he has been involved in the business of fake currency for the last about five years. He further stated that he received the consignment of fake currency from Bihar and also from Dipak Kumar alias Guddu at 52 per cent commission. He also informed police that Guddu was expected to bring a fresh consignment of fake currency soon.
Acting on the tip off police kept a look out and began a strict vehicle checking on the entry points of the district. On Friday police arrested Depak Kumar alias Guddu Choudhary (22), a resident of village Lembua under Aamas police station of district Gaya in Bihar, with a large consignment of fake currency. Police recovered 50 fake notes of Rs 1000 denomination from his possession along with Rs 220.
Dipak confessed to have been involved in business of fake currency for the last about a decade and makes about Rs 2.50 lakh per month thus. He further informed police that he has been circulating fake currency in several states including Chhattisgarh.
Police have registered cases under Section 489 B, 489 C of IPC (procuring and circulating fake currency) against the accused and are investigating further.