Mumbai-Mangalore-Bangalore Route for Fake Currency
Times of India
Bangalore, Jul 14: The continued cross-border influx of counterfeit currency into India is causing concern among the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, CBI, Intelligence Bureau and the police.
Though Abdul Rasheed Puttur alias Puttu — the kingpin who operated in Mumbai-Mangalore-Bangalore circuit — is in the net, the continued inflow of fake notes hints at more players. “Last month, DRI detected Rs 2 lakh in counterfeit notes in Mangalore. The sea route had been used to transport it,’’ senior CoD officials told TOI.
Recently, top enforcement officials met to plan better coordination, exchange of information and joint operations. “In the North, there are many routes to smuggle counterfeit currency into the country — Rann of Kutch, Nepal and Bangladesh borders. In the South, the Mumbai-Mangalore-Bangalore circuit is the gateway,’’ explained DRI officials. “Puttu’s revelation shows money is routed to India from Dubai. Before he was deported, Puttu was running the racket in Dubai,’’ said CoD DIG Malini Krishnamurthy.
Puttu confessed to operating for Dawood Ibrahim’s associate Aftab Bhatki and Abdulla Haji from Pakistan. Revelations indicate the notes were printed in Pakistan. “It’s very difficult to confirm, unless we get either Bhatki or Haji,’’ Malini said.
It seems to be a family business for Puttu, who hails from Bantwal in Dakshina Kannada district. His cousin Mohammed Haneef was arrested at Bangalore airport in 2006 with Rs 25 lakh in fake currency and his brother Farooq Ahmed was arrested in Mangalore with Rs 15 lakh. Puttu confessed sending 13 consignments of fake currency to India, totalling Rs 1.2 crore.
During his 1994-98 stay in Dubai, Puttu came into contact with Dawood Ibrahim, Bhatki, Anees Ibrahim, Chhota Shakeel and Abdulla Haji. On returning to Mumbai in 1998, Puttu took up export of banned drugs, for which he was arrested.
After his release, he returned to Dubai, where he set up an electronic goods business and renewed contact with Bhatki as well as Abdulla Haji. “Puttu said he just used his network to circulate the currency and get his commission. The quality of fake notes is so good it puzzles even police too,” Malini Krishnamurthy said.