New Ind Press

Kasaragod, Jun 30: Investigating agencies have identified a person from Kanhangad as the kingpin of the fake currency racket operating in Kerala.

Haji Abdulla Abdulrehman, who is now in Dubai, is the mastermind behind the whole operations, sources said. He is wanted in many cases including a bank fraud case.

He is also said to be involved in printing fake currency notes at a press at Pallikkara and smuggling of gold and silver.

The 6.3-feet-tall and handsome Abdulrehman is called 'Amitabh Bachchan' in his circles. He was an associate of M K Abdulla, who was arrested by Sri Lankan police recently.

He, along with his associate Adukkathil Moideen, enjoys the monopoly of the fake currency business in the state.

Abdulrehman was engaged in this business long ago along with Abdul Rashid Puthu, a person from Karnataka. Rashid is now in Mumbai jail.

The state police is in the know of the activities of Abdulrehman. It is said that he enjoyed the patronage of some police officers which helped him to flee the country two years ago though there are many warrants against him.

Sources said that 80 percent of the fake currencies smuggled into Kerala are distributed in Mangalore and Bangalore.

The notes are of high quality which cannot be identified even by UV rays.

It needs the help of an expert to distinguish the notes from the authentic ones.

The notes, printed in Pakistan, are available in the Gulf countries. The notes of Rs 500 denominations are procured for Rs 175 and are distributed for Rs 300 in India. Currencies of Rs 1,000 are available for Rs 300 and distributed here for Rs 550.

The persons arrested in Kozhikode and Karipur recently are the subagents of Abdulrehman who distribute the currencies to various destinations.

The currencies are smuggled to India through carriers who, sometimes, do not know what they are carrying.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) had cautioned those coming to India by flight against accepting articles from unknown persons.

The agency had many times advised the passengers to check the parcels even if they are given by familiar persons.

Sources said there is no basis in the allegation that the Customs officials at the airport are hand-inglove with the fake currency mafia.

It would not be possible for the Customs officials to locate the currencies hidden in the baggage as they could not be detected in X-ray examination.