NIA probing Pakistani connection to fake notes racket busted in Bangladesh

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is probing links between a Pakistani national and a racket in fake Indian currency notes (FICN) which was busted in Bangladesh recently.

In a report to the Union Home Ministry, accessed by The Indian Express, the NIA pointed out possible connections between Danish, a Pakistani national, and Shamsul Haque, the ringleader running the FICN racket in Bangladesh. It is alleged that Danish supplied FICN to Haque, who along with his wife had been involved in the racket for eight years.

Haque and four other accomplices were arrested last month by the Dhaka Metropolitan Police and more than Rs 15 lakh in fake notes were seized. Also recovered was a fake currency cutting machine made of iron and wood, 24 pages of partially printed FICN and six pages of totally printed fake Rs 2,000 notes.

The NIA report notes that the fake notes were sold to Indian citizens through two individuals – Noor Mohammad and Jamal – from Shivganj, which borders the Chanpainbabganj area of Bangladesh.

Since old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes were demonetised in November last year, the NIA, the Border Security Force (BSF) and police have seized Rs 6.2 crore worth of fake currency in 17 border states, according to a statement from the home ministry in the Rajya Sabha.