The particular cell of Delhi police on Wednesday morning arrested two individuals from a spot close to Anand Vihar railway station, who had been allegedly indulged in circulation of pretend Indian forex notes (FICNs) in India from throughout the border. The FICNs amounting ₹1,97,500, in denomination of 500 have been recovered from their possession, the police mentioned.

Pramod Singh Kushwah, the deputy commissioner of police (particular cell), mentioned the recovered FICNs had been being routed to India by way of Indo-Bangladesh border. “The arrested accused have already supplied FICNs amounting to over 40 lakh in Delhi in the last two years. Both of them, identified as Mabia Khatoon (35) of Malda (West Bengal) and Munish Ahmed (54) of Khanpur (Delhi), were the active members of an international cartel indulged in pumping and circulation of FICNs in India,” he mentioned.

He additional mentioned that the arrest had been made on the premise of a tip-off relating to indulgence of two members of the cartel in circulation of FICNs in India from Indo-Bangadesh border by way of Malda, West Bengal. “Accordingly, a team was formed and team members were deployed around the railway over bridge near Anand Vihar railway station. At about 10.15 am, Khatoon came under the railway over bridge and handed over a packet having FICNs to Ahmed. Immediately, the police team cornered and overpowered the duo. On search, FICN of ₹1,00,000 were recovered from Ahmed, whereas FICNs of ₹97,500 were recovered from Khatoon. All the recovered currency notes are in denomination of 500. The recovered FICNs are of such a fine quality that it is difficult to distinguish them from the original one with a naked eye,” he mentioned.

Kushwah additionally mentioned that in interrogation, Khatoon disclosed that she had procured recovered consignment of FICNs from an individual at Malda and she or he had come to Delhi to ship the identical to Ahmed. “She further divulged to have brought as many as 10 consignments of FICN amounting to ₹40 lakh and delivered the same to Ahmed in the last two years. Ahmed, on the other hand, disclosed that he has been supplying FICNs in Delhi and NCR and Uttar Pradesh since 2015. As per him, he used to receive FICNs from other sources in Malda earlier. Ahmed has been found involved in four criminal cases in past and three of these cases were related supplying of fake currency. In 2015, he along with his two associates, was arrested in Rohini North with FICNs amounting to ₹52,000, while in 2018, he along with one of his associates, was arrested by the crime branch for possessing FICNs amounting to ₹1,60,000. Again in 2020, he along with two of his associates, was arrested in the area of Kotla Mubarakpur with FICN amounting 62,000. Ahmed is also involved in a case of extortion in Delhi. All the four cases are pending trial in courts,” he mentioned.

The DCP additional mentioned that interrogation of the arrested duo is underway, to establish the linkages together with supply of provide of FICNs within the nation and to apprehend the opposite members of the cartel.