The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) has arrested two men for their alleged involvement in smuggling high-quality counterfeit Indian currency worth ₹1,00,500 into the state from the India-Bangladesh border through Malda in West Bengal, officials said here on Saturday.
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The accused, Azim Khan and Raja alias Sameerul, both residents of Kasganj district, were arrested in Lucknow on Friday. The ATS said 201 counterfeit ₹500 notes were recovered from them.
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According to the ATS, its intelligence network had received information about people procuring high-quality counterfeit currency from the India-Bangladesh border through Malda and circulating it in different districts of Uttar Pradesh.
The agency said the seized notes appeared to be of high quality during preliminary examination based on Reserve Bank of India (RBI) parameters. Further forensic and technical examination will establish their exact quality and origin.
Investigators suspect the accused were part of a network transporting counterfeit currency from the India-Bangladesh border into Uttar Pradesh. The ATS is questioning them about their alleged contacts in West Bengal, the currency’s source, transportation routes and other network members.
An FIR has been registered at the UP ATS police station in Lucknow under relevant provisions, and further investigation is underway.
The agency is also likely to investigate whether the counterfeit currency was intended only for circulation as part of a criminal racket or if the network had links with organised crime or other anti-national activities.
