Cuttack: In a major achievement for police, a counterfeit currency note racket has been busted in the Jagatpur area of Odisha’s Cuttack and one person held in this connection.
As per preliminary information, the accused had plans to release fake currency notes into the market during the Durga Puja festival. Small businesses and street vendors, particularly those setting up temporary stalls for the festival, were the main targets of the counterfeiters.
Acting on information received about the racket, a team of police swung into action and nabbed one person, who is being interrogated by Jagatpur police.
Sources said the accused had introduced himself as a builder and promised a local to help purchase land taking an advance payment of Rs 1.6 lakh. When the land deal failed, the accused called the man to a hotel and offered to settle the amount. Instead of returning the money, he tried to convince the victim to join a counterfeit currency note business and showed him fake notes samples.
The suspect said that by investing Rs 2.5 lakh, the victim could receive Rs one crore in counterfeit notes. Sensing foul play, the victim informed the police about the whole episode.
Based on this information, police nabbed the man, identified as Nirmal Dehuri of Bantala area in Angul, while the mastermind behind the operation, Rahas Nayak, managed to escape.
Police recovered several counterfeit currency notes, along with materials like liquid and papers used in producing the fake currency notes. Further investigation is underway and efforts are on to apprehend others involved in the racket.