Counterfeit note rackets in the city have grown over the last couple of years, going by the statistics available with the Pune crime branch. As compared to 18 cases in 2012, 26 such rackets were busted in 2013 with the haul turning out to be much higher too.
Even though Central agencies have given specific reports to all police commissionerates and rural headquarters that fake currency has been used for ‘terror’ activities in the country, the scenario in Pune is in contrast.
Neither the crime branch sleuths nor the local police stations have managed to establish a link in these cases. Investigators claim the suspects are pumping these notes in from adjacent countries through border states and operate in different cities. The conspirators mainly rope in poor people who are in search of jobs. As a result, even after they are arrested, the investigators can’t establish further links in the cases.
A senior police officer of Pune crime branch, speaking on condition of anonymity, told dna, “Counterfeit notes which are difficult to identify without a proper detection machine, have flooded the city. The suspects are mainly targeting traders, shopkeepers and banks. They easily enter any shop, purchase items and exchange their notes. Most of the shopkeepers do not have note-checking machines. As a result, they cannot make out any difference in the notes and get cheated.”
The Central agencies had arrested an alleged operative of the Indian Mujahideen (IM) two years ago and recovered counterfeit notes from him. The suspect was using these notes for raising funds for terror activities. “So far, the investigators have established a link to West Bengal where fake currency notes are pumped in through Bangladesh,” the officer added.
A senior anti-terrorism squad (ATS) officer told dna, “The fake currency notes are printed in Pakistan and Bangladesh and smuggled into India. This is one of the sources of funds for their activities. Such cases are on the rise in the state. We have been taking inputs from agencies to curb such activities in the state.”
How to identity fake currency notes
- The original note shows the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) governor’s signature and RBI seal under ultraviolet light
- Original notes turn yellow, while fake currency notes tend to fade faster
- Original notes are made using fibre paper which lends crispness to them
- Fake notes are made of bamboo paper and are thicker
Modus operandi
The racketeers usually stay in lodges and keep changing their locations daily. They operate in market places and deal with shopkeepers located away from their lodges. They use Rs500 or Rs1,000 notes to purchase low priced items as the balance amount is returned in original currency. A senior police inspector, speaking on condition of anonymity, said, “Most of the racketeers use hawala, illegal gambling and matka dens to circulate fake notes.”
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