Fake currency racket busted in Bihar's Muzaffarpur, 9 held

PATNA: The Muzaffarpur police on Monday busted a racket involved in printing and circulation of Indian fake currently notes (IFCN) in north Bihar and arrested nine people, including its kingpin, Ajay Mahto. They also recovered IFCN with a face value of Rs 7.5 lakh and an SUV used in transportation of the notes.
Muzaffarpur SSP Jayant Kant told this reporter over the phone that a special team, headed by additional SP (west) Syed Imran Masood, was set up to track a family travelling by an SUV.
“The cops intercepted the vehicle between Motipur and Motihari. Initially Mahto tried to mislead them by saying he was travelling with his wife and two children and had no connection with the IFCN racket,” the SSP said, adding that Mahto’s relative Raja Singh used to send him papers for printing the notes from Nepal.
Mahto, a resident of Patahi in East Champaran district, had been involved in the illegal activity for the last six months. He used to print the notes at his native village, which is close to the India-Nepal border.
The SHO of Motipur police station Anil Kumar said raids were conducted at Majorganj in Sitamarhi district and some suspected hideouts of Mahto’s gang members in East Champaran and Muzaffarpur districts. “Police also arrested Mahto’s wife Sunita Devi and their two children,” he added.
Police did not rule out the use of the seized consignment of the IFCN in the upcoming panchayat polls. An investigation officer claimed, “No connection of the arrested people with any terror outfit operating in India or abroad has been confirmed so far.”