Inter-state gang uses Instagram to obtain fake currency notes, 3 held in Bengaluru

Officers, however, said they are yet to trace the kingpin, suspected to be from Bihar, who sold fake notes with a face value of Rs 1 lakh for Rs 25,000 after contacting the accused over Instagram.

The arrested accused have been identified as Nithin (Left), Kerala natives Devan (middle) and Saravanan, a resident of Tamil Nadu (right). (Express Photo)

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Cottonpet police in Bengaluru arrested three members of an inter-state gang that circulated counterfeit currency notes of Rs 500 denomination in the city after obtaining them through an Instagram acquaintance. The police have seized 1,307 fake notes, with a face value of Rs 6.5 lakh, from the accused.

Officers, however, said they are yet to trace the kingpin, suspected to be from Bihar, who sold fake notes worth Rs 1 lakh for Rs 25,000 after contacting the accused over Instagram.

The arrested accused have been identified as Saravanan, 24, a resident of Tamil Nadu, and Kerala natives Devan, 20, and Nithin, 21. The matter came to light when some shopkeepers in and around the Majestic area informed the police of some people buying products with fake currency notes.

A police team, which was on alert, subsequently arrested Devan and Nithin on June 28. During interrogation, they confessed to Saravanan’s role. He was arrested later.

The police have seized 1,307 fake notes, with a face value of Rs 6.5 lakh, from the accused. (Express Photo)

Officers said the accused had created an Instagram account called ‘fake_currency_tamilnadu’ and were in touch with a person supposedly based in Bihar. Saravanan, a diploma graduate, contacted him on Instagram and the person offered Rs 1 lakh in fake notes in exchange for Rs 25,000.

Upon the person’s direction, Saravanan went to Bihar and returned to Tamil Nadu with a bag of fake currency notes. He then started circulating the notes through Devan and Nithin.

Initial probe revealed that the accused have so far circulated fake notes worth over Rs 10 lakh in Kerala, Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Search is on to trace the main accused who deactivated his Instagram account after the arrests.

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