Kasargod: Counterfeit Currency - Ten Accused Face Charges of Treason
Daijiworld Media Network - Kasargod (SP)
Kasargod, Feb 1: National Investigation Agency (NIA), in its first information report (FIR) filed in the court, has charged ten persons with treason in connection with the recovery of fake Indian currency notes with a total face value of Rs 96 lac from Nedumbassery (Kochi) and Karipur (Kozhikode) airports in the state.
It may be recalled that two different consignments containing fake currency notes worth Rs 72.50 lac and Rs 24 lac had been recovered from Karipur and Nedumbassery airports during July 2008. While the consignment which reached Karipur had been shipped from Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, the one which arrived at Nedumbassery had been despatched from Abu Dhabi.
The directorate of revenue intelligence (DRI) had arrested the concerned in both the cases. The cases were later handed over to NIA as the issue has national ramifications. NIA, which had arrested K Gopinath from Mavelikkara, found that these notes were being printed in Pakistan and supplied to India through the Gulf route.
The other accused arrested are Sajin from Kottakal, Mohammed Altab and Naushad from Trissur, Abdul Malik from Kaipamangala, R K Usman from Malappuram, Abdul Karim from Perambavoor, Moosa Kutty from Palakkad, Mohammed Rafi from Chavakkad, and Abdul Majeed from Ponnani.
The currency notes recovered in Nedumbassery resembled the ones the Anti Terrorist Squad of Mumbai police had recovered on May 16, 2009. The DRI also detected that the documents furnished by the accused in the court of economic offences at Ernakulam in support of their bail applications, were fake.
It is learnt that NIA’s investigation into the recovery of fake currency notes worth nine lac rupees from Taliparamba also is in the concluding stage. Pradip Kumar and Ashish from kannur Cherutai, and Kamal Ummer from Hosdurg were arrested in this case. It is said that these notes were meant for distribution at various places including Kannur, Kasargod, and Mangalore. It is claimed that this is the first time that FIR on fake notes relating to terrorist activities has been registered in the nation.
In the meanwhile, another case of recovery of fake notes from Thiruvananthapuram airport has surfaced. In all likelihood, NIA will take up investigation into this case too.