New Delhi. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Saturday conducted raids in four states to bust the Fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) racket operating in different parts of the country and seized fake notes, currency printing paper, printers and digital gadgets. The raid has been conducted as part of the NIA investigation in a case (RC-02/2023/NIA/BLR) registered on November 24, 2023 under sections 120B, 489B, 489C and 489D of the Indian Penal Code.
The case pertains to a larger conspiracy hatched by suspected persons to promote cross-border smuggling of FICN and its circulation in various states of India. The officer said, “Based on credible information, NIA teams arrested accused Rahul Tanaji Patil alias Javed in Kohlapur, Maharashtra, Vivek Thakur alias Aditya Singh in Shahjahanpur district of Uttar Pradesh, Mahendra in Ballari district of Karnataka and Yavatmal in Maharashtra.
“Action was taken against the premises of suspect Shiva Patil alias Bhimrao and Shashi Bhushan in Rohtas district of Bihar.”The search led to the seizure of FICN with face value of Rs. Rs 6,600 along with documents of note printing from the house of Vivek Thakur alias Aditya Singh. He, along with Shiva Patil alias Bhimrao and others, used to purchase fake currency and its printing material from border countries for circulation throughout India.
NIA investigation further revealed that Rahul Tanaji Patil alias Javed was using fraudulently obtained SIM cards to collect payments by promising to supply fake currency notes. During the search of Mahendra’s house, a printer used for FICN was seized. Investigation is going on in the matter.
