Fake-notes’ trail leads to Mumbai, Gujarat Police seek Farooqui for interrogation

ATS sources said that interrogation of the five men had revealed that Noor Mohammad, one of those caught here, was Farooqui’s main agent in Gujarat and he had already pushed in fake 500-rupee notes worth Rs 1 crore into circulation before he was nabbed.

Sources said the fake currency seized from Farooqui in Jogeshwari included notes of rupees 100 and 500 denomination. The Mumbai police is said to be searching for another man, identified as Aftab Bakti, who is said to be a key-man in the racket.

The Gujarat Police regards the Saturday arrests and seizure as the most important in the State, so far. Director-General of Police (Intelligence) R N Bhattacharya said although several such seizures were made in the last six months, “this is the first time that we have important clues and know that Rs 1 crore worth fake notes are in circulation”. He also said that the fine quality of the seized fake currency left no doubt that it was printed in Pakistan.

Bhattacharya said that Farooqui and Batki were bringing in fake currency by air. “Their men hand over packets of fake currency to unsuspecting travellers at Dubai and other Gulf airports, and ask them to deliver these to people at Mumbai airport for some money,” Bhattacharya explained.

Abhay Chudasma, ATS Deputy Superintendent, who is investigating into the case, said they would “expose the entire racket in the State once we get Farooqui”. Operations were on in some other parts of the State and they are hopeful of making more seizures, he said.

Sources expressed hope that the arrests and seizure would jolt certain important sections in the police out of their complacency about ISI efforts to push fake currency in the State.

They said that a few months ago, at a meeting with senior police officers, Reserve Bank of India officers had expressed grave concern at the circulation of fake notes in Gujarat. But some police officers ruled out the possibility of any large-scale circulation of the notes and even remarked that this was a “creation of ATS”.