5 held as police bust fake currency printing racket, notes valued at Rs 28 lakh seized | Pune News
Five persons were arrested for allegedly printing and circulating fake Indian currency notes and seized fake nots of 200 and 500 denominations valued at Rs 28.66 lakh from their possession, Pune Police said on Monday.
Police have identified the accused as Manisha Swapnil Thanekar (42) of Yerwada, Bharati Tanaji Gavand (40) of Keshav Nagar, Sachin Ramchandra Yemgar (35) of Gahunje, Naresh Bhimappa Shetty (35) of Lohegaon and Prabhu Gugaljeddy (34) of Vishrantwadi.
An FIR in the matter was registered at the Shivajinagar police station on April 17 based on a complaint filed by the assistant manager of Kotak Mahindra Bank on F C Road.
As per the FIR, the Kotak Mahindra Bank received 55 fake currency notes of 200 denomination in its Cash Recycling Machine (CRM) on April 17. Bank officials identified the customer who had deposited the fake notes in the machine but it was found that the customer was unaware that those were fake currency notes. So, initially, an offence was lodged against unidentified accused as per Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita sections 178, 179 and 180.
Police probe revealed that the customer had give some money on loan to a youth. While repaying the loan, the youth gave him Rs 11,000 in 55 fake notes of Rs 200 denomination.
Police then zeroed down on the youth and it was learnt that he got these fake notes from his mother Bharati Gavand, who is into the transport business. Police arrested Gavand along with her aides Manisha Thanekar and Sachin Yemgar, on April 18 and seized several fake notes of 200 denomination from the three accused persons, stated a press release by senior police inspector Mahesh Bolkotgi on Monday.
Further investigation revealed they had procured the fake notes from one Naresh Shetty. Accordingly, police raided Shetty’s house in Lohegaon and found a fake currency printing unit at the spot. Police recovered 20 bundles of fake currency notes of 200 denomination and over 2,000 fake notes of 500 denomination. Police also seized a printer, ink and blank papers used for printing fake notes at the spot.
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During searches, police recovered 648 fake notes of 200 denomination and three notes of 500 denomination from Shetty’s car. Police attached the car for investigation.
Assistant Police Inspector K B Daberao said they also arrested Gugaljeddy, a real estate agent, on April 20, for allegedly helping Shetty in manufacturing the fake notes.
Police said more arrests are likely in this case as search was on for those who provided laptops and papers for printing fake currency.
Police said that the accused persons are suspected to have circulated the fake currency notes in the market and a further investigation in this connection is going on, police said.
