NEW
DELHI: The capital seems to have become the favorite haunt for
counterfeiters. In the first six months of 2012, the security agencies
have recovered fake currency with a face value of over Rs 4.15 crore
against last year's Rs 4.08 crore. In 2009 and 2010, the recoveries
amounted to Rs 3.27 crore and Rs 3.01 crore, states Reserve Bank of
India ( RBI) while replying to an RTI application filed by activist S C
Aggarwal.
The data shows that since last year, Delhi has been emerging as the main hub of fake currency circulation, replacing earlier key areas like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.
The dire situation is also reflected in a recent directive of Delhi Police commissioner Neeraj Kumar that called for immediate measures to stop smuggling of fake currency into the capital.
Sources in the special cell of Delhi Police point out that not only is the quality of notes, mostly from across the border, "very fine", the recoveries, too, always cross over a few lakhs. "That explains why we have registered over 38 cases last year compared to 258 in Maharashtra and still recovered more fakes. This year, we have registered 18 cases and recovered fakes with a face value of Rs 4.15 crore as compared to UP that has recovered Rs 13.9 crore of fakes from 69 hauls," an officer said.
"The data shows that UP and Bengal are the most favoured routes to bring fake currency to the capital," he said.
Keeping an eye on the increasing flow of fake currency, the special cell and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) are working to track down the source, key operatives and the route of the fake notes circulation in the country.
In January, following synchronized operations along with different state agencies and BSF, NIA arrested 14 people, including two main operatives of the racket. The arrest of Morgen Hossain and Rakib Seikh from Malda's Kaliachak in West Bengal strengthened NIA's claim that all the fake notes circulated in India were printed in Pakistan and smuggled through Bangladesh and Nepal.
Interrogation of the duo led to the arrest of Imran and Jenab, who are from Muzaffarnagar, with fake notes with a face value of Rs 9.85 lakh. They told the security agencies that one Iqbal Kana, also from Muzaffarnagar, is a master counterfeiter who has fled to Pakistan.
Kana, sources said, used to receive consignments from one Mohammad Ashraf in Dubai. Either readymade fake notes or currency papers and printing equipment first reach Dubai from Pakistan and are then sent to India. If not made in Pakistan, racketeers usually print the fake notes in either Nepal or Bangladesh, sources said.
NIA sources said the Bangladesh-based unit circulates more than 70% of the fake notes, taking advantage of the country's porous border with West Bengal.
A few operatives arrested by the special cell and Kolkata Police's special task force said a man from Bangladesh controls the supply from Dhaka. "He targets the construction workers in India who are trusted with the fakes to reach north, south and west India," said an officer.
The data shows that since last year, Delhi has been emerging as the main hub of fake currency circulation, replacing earlier key areas like Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and West Bengal.
The dire situation is also reflected in a recent directive of Delhi Police commissioner Neeraj Kumar that called for immediate measures to stop smuggling of fake currency into the capital.
Sources in the special cell of Delhi Police point out that not only is the quality of notes, mostly from across the border, "very fine", the recoveries, too, always cross over a few lakhs. "That explains why we have registered over 38 cases last year compared to 258 in Maharashtra and still recovered more fakes. This year, we have registered 18 cases and recovered fakes with a face value of Rs 4.15 crore as compared to UP that has recovered Rs 13.9 crore of fakes from 69 hauls," an officer said.
"The data shows that UP and Bengal are the most favoured routes to bring fake currency to the capital," he said.
Keeping an eye on the increasing flow of fake currency, the special cell and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) are working to track down the source, key operatives and the route of the fake notes circulation in the country.
In January, following synchronized operations along with different state agencies and BSF, NIA arrested 14 people, including two main operatives of the racket. The arrest of Morgen Hossain and Rakib Seikh from Malda's Kaliachak in West Bengal strengthened NIA's claim that all the fake notes circulated in India were printed in Pakistan and smuggled through Bangladesh and Nepal.
Interrogation of the duo led to the arrest of Imran and Jenab, who are from Muzaffarnagar, with fake notes with a face value of Rs 9.85 lakh. They told the security agencies that one Iqbal Kana, also from Muzaffarnagar, is a master counterfeiter who has fled to Pakistan.
Kana, sources said, used to receive consignments from one Mohammad Ashraf in Dubai. Either readymade fake notes or currency papers and printing equipment first reach Dubai from Pakistan and are then sent to India. If not made in Pakistan, racketeers usually print the fake notes in either Nepal or Bangladesh, sources said.
NIA sources said the Bangladesh-based unit circulates more than 70% of the fake notes, taking advantage of the country's porous border with West Bengal.
A few operatives arrested by the special cell and Kolkata Police's special task force said a man from Bangladesh controls the supply from Dhaka. "He targets the construction workers in India who are trusted with the fakes to reach north, south and west India," said an officer.
Source : http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com
No comments:
Post a Comment