Nalgonda: A couple were arrested from Nalgonda in Telangana on charges of printing fake Indian currency notes (FICN) at home after watching YouTube videos.
Bezawada Rajeev, alias Raju (38) and his wife Durgam Pavani (26) were arrested and a search of their house revealed counterfeit currency notes, a printer-scanner, paper stock and other materials.
The couple had established a small-scale counterfeit currency operation after acquiring technical know-how from online videos and they were printing and distributing fake Rs 500 notes, the police said.
“The accused learned the process of printing fake currency from YouTube videos. They purchased a printer, bond paper and other materials online and started printing counterfeit Rs 500 notes at their residence,” Nalgonda DSP K Shivaram Reddy has been quoted as saying by NDTV.
The accused allegedly printed the fake notes on high-quality bond paper, cut them to currency size using scissors and steel rulers, and attempted to make them resemble genuine notes before circulating them in public places.
“The gang specifically targeted crowded shops, weekly markets and business establishments where transactions are quick and counterfeit notes are less likely to be detected immediately. Elderly shopkeepers were among their preferred targets,” the DSP added.
It was a milkman named Avula Kiran who first brought the matter to light after receiving a fake Rs 500 note. A special police team was constituted to trace the accused after he lodged a complaint. The couple were finally nabbed from their residence.
The police team seized 15 counterfeit Rs 500 notes worth Rs 7,500, a printer-cum-scanner believed to have been used for printing the notes, 100 sheets of bond paper, cut paper pieces, scissors, steel rulers, a sparkle pen and an unregistered motorcycle, during the raid.
Investigations are now on to know the exact extent of the operation and if more people were involved in the racket.
Rajeev is a repeat offender, the police said, with a lengthy criminal history, including a murder case, an attempt-to-murder case and seven counterfeit currency cases registered in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. A rowdy sheet is also pending against him.
