6 months ago
2
Bengaluru
Following a ailment from Reserve Bank of India (RBI) about fake currency notes, the Halasuru Gate Police busted a racket and arrested 10 radical for their alleged engagement successful tampering with and selling ₹2,000 denomination notes withdrawn from circulation.
According to the police, the RBI’s Manager filed a ailment connected October 17, stating that ₹2,000 notes — already withdrawn from circulation — had been tampered with by changing their serial numbers earlier being deposited astatine the bank.
Following the complaint, the constabulary identified the depositor and arrested him from his residence successful Cubbonpet connected October 24.
During interrogation, the accused allegedly revealed that helium had deposited ₹40,000 worthy of altered currency connected behalf of 2 acquaintances, who promised him a commission. Based connected his information, the constabulary arrested some associates aboriginal adjacent Mysore Bank Circle the aforesaid day.
Further probe revealed that the trio had received ₹8 lakh successful ₹2,000 notes from 3 different individuals, who had convinced radical to manus implicit specified withdrawn notes nether the pretext of performing a ‘special ritual’ that would ‘multiply’ their wealth hundredfold. The 3 men, arrested adjacent Majestic Bus Stand connected October 25, reportedly confessed to moving the fraudulent scheme.
Based connected their information, the constabulary apprehended 3 much suspects from Andhra Pradesh connected October 28 and seized ₹6 lakh successful ₹2,000 notes. The accused besides disclosed the individuality of their subordinate who had modified the serial numbers and printed details connected the notes. He was traced to Yeshwantpur, wherever the constabulary seized ₹6 lakh successful fake ₹2,000 notes and instrumentality utilized to change currency.
In total, ₹18 lakh worthy of fake ₹2,000 notes were seized successful the case. All 10 accused were produced earlier the tribunal connected November 3 and remanded successful judicial custody. One pistillate accused remains absconding, and efforts are nether mode to hint her.
Explaining the modus operandi of the gang, the CCB officials said that it was a bizarre scam involving 3 men among the accused who posed arsenic ‘swamis’ and tricked gullible radical into believing they could bring a ‘rain of money’ done a peculiar ritual utilizing ₹2,000 denomination notes.
The accused — identified arsenic Basavaraj alias Satyananda Swami, Mallikarjun, and Mohan alias Muniswamy — would instrumentality turns dressing up arsenic beatified men to person radical that performing a ritual with circumstantial bid of ₹2,000 notes would multiply their wealth respective times over.
The trio told their victims that if they offered 100 notes of the (2018 HS series) ₹2,000 denomination, it would effect successful a miraculous ‘rain of money’. Claiming to person entree to specified notes, the fake Swamis would complaint customers hefty sums- sometimes taking ₹2lakh and returning lone ₹20,000 to ₹40,000 successful alleged ‘ritual’ notes.
The constabulary said the accused utilized an subordinate identified arsenic Mubarak and utilized to tamper archetypal ₹2,000 notes by altering the printed twelvemonth and serial number. These modified notes were past circulated done agents to unsuspecting victims.
The swamis conducted the fake rituals adjacent lakes oregon ponds, insisting that the ‘pooja’ indispensable beryllium performed alone, without immoderate household members present.
During the ritual, they told the victims to instrumentality a dip successful the h2o to commune for the ‘rain of money’. While the victims submerged, the fake swamis would fly with the money.
The pack operated successful Bengaluru, Yadgir, Haveri, Andhra Pradesh, and Tamil Nadu, the constabulary said. So far, the officers person seized ₹18 lakh worthy of ₹2,000 denomination notes and the instrumentality utilized to tamper with them.
The constabulary were verifying whether the seized notes are genuine oregon altered.
