Gulf based fake currency racket: probe intensified after arrest of Bantwal man

Kasargod, August 27: Days after the arrest of two persons in connection with the circulation of counterfeit currency notes in northern Kerala, the police have intensified probe into the reported flow of fake currency notes, of the face value of Rs.30 lakh, to the region.

The police have intensified the investigation into the fake currency racket allegedly being operated from the Gulf. The arrest of a few persons, likely to be carried out soon, was expected to throw more light into the operation of the racket, S. Surendran, Superintendent of Police, said .

Police teams had left for certain places in Karnataka as part of the investigation, Mr. Surendran said.

He added that the cases had not been handed over to the National Investigating Agency, as reported in a section of the media, but was being probed by the local police. A decision on whether to hand over the case to any other agencies would be taken in the due course, he said.

Police had arrested one Abdul Jabbar, 42, of Cheruvathur who bought jewellery costing Rs.1.80 lakh from a leading jewellery outlet in Kanhangad on August 18 by giving fake notes. Another person, identified as Usman, hailing from Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada, was taken into custody later.

During the police interrogation, Usman revealed that he had flown from Dubai to Mangalore with two luggage bags containing one Rs 24 lakh and Rs 6 lakh given by one Moidin Haji from Dubai to handover to two people in Kasargod.