Man sentenced to 13 years RI for circulating fake currency

Mangalore, August 14: The fast-track court here on Friday sentenced Santhosh K of Salmara, Karkala, accused of circulating fake currency notes to 13 years rigorous imprisonment.

Santhosh was sentenced under sections 489 B of IPC to undergo 10 years rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs 10,000, and three additional months of imprisonment in case of default in paying fine. He was also sentenced to three years RI after being found guilty under section 120 B of IPC.

Kavoor police in 2008 had arrested Muhammad Shabbir, Mayyaddi, and Muhammad Asif, on charges of circulating fake currency notes and seized counterfeit notes of the face value of Rs 2 lakh. Santhosh was the alleged kingpin, who supplied the counterfeit currency notes to the above accused and was in hiding, abroad. Kerala police nabbed Santhosh at the immigration counter of Kochi international airport 18-months ago and handed him to local police.

Ananthapadmanabha, PSI, Kavoor police station arrested Santhosh and filed the chargesheet before the fast track court. Linganna Gowda Jantly, fast-track court judge pronouncing the judgement on Friday found Santhosh guilty of circulating counterfeit currency and of criminal conspiracy and sentenced him accordingly. Shabbir and Mayyadi sentenced to 18 years imprisonment earlier are presently undergoing their sentence.

Asif was released from prison after undergoing his jail term. Santhosh used to tranship counterfeit currency notes in tea packets from abroad to his local contacts in the city and Shabbir and Mayyaddi used to dispose of the same on his behalf. Mangalore city police stated that Santhosh is also gulity of involving himself in rowdy activities in the city. Taranahalli, public prosecutor argued on behalf of the state in this case.