Fake currency scam: Another bank official arrested

LUCKNOW: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Uttar Pradesh police arrested yet another bank employee posted at the State Bank of India (SBI) branch of Domariyaganj in Uttar Pradesh, where a large scale fake currency racket was unearthed last month, officials said Friday.

Rajaram, who served as the accountant of the bank for 15 days, was arrested after he was found to be working closely with the kingpin of the racket, Sudhakar Tripathi.

"Rajaram took charge in Domariyaganj July 14 and was removed from there July 29, the day Tripathi, the cashier of the bank was arrested by the Special Task Force," Additional superintendent of police, Nihal Prasad, said.

Fake currency with a nominal value of Rs.30 million was recovered from the currency chest of the bank.

"The currency chest has two keys that have to be used simultaneously and besides the cashier, the accountant carries the other key. We have found some deposit slips, that were signed at the time of depositing money in the chest and they contain the signatures of Tripathi and Rajaram," an SIT source informed.

The SIT has also received the court's permission to conduct Narco tests on Tripathi and co-accused Abid Shekh.

"A request, to finalise the date for the test, has been sent to the Bangalore laboratory," a member of the SIT said.

Meanwhile, the Mumbai police arrested a native of Domariyaganj, Tufal Ahmed, Thursday and recovered fake currency worth Rs.450,000 from his possession.