JAJPUR : Four persons were on Saturday arrested for running a fake currency racket in Sukinda chromites valley and other areas in Jajpur district. Police also seized fake currency notes worth `27.46 lakh of `2000, `500 and `100 denominations from their possession.
“On a tip-off, Kaliapani police conducted a raid in Kingola village and apprehended one Pradeep Kumar Pradhan from his house and brought him to police station. Police also seized `8,200 fake Indian currency notes of `100 denomination from his possession,” said Inspector General (IG) of police, Central Range, Soumendra Priyadarshi at a press conference here.
Pradhan was trying to circulate the fake currency notes in the local areas which are dominated by illiterate tribal people, he said. During interrogation, he disclosed the name of one of his accomplices Chandramani Bal, who was arrested from Chhachina village under Mangalpur police limits. Police also seized counterfeit notes worth `50,000 of various denominations from his possession.
“Following interrogation of the duo, police got vital information about fake currency circulation and conducted raids at different places in the State and arrested Rameswar Maharana alias Ramesh of Nuapada of Ganjam and seized `26.16 lakh of counterfeit notes of various denominations,” said the IG.
“While Ramesh used to supplying the notes to Pradip, Chandramani was preparing those. Involvement of more people in the racket is suspected. Investigation is on to apprehend others,” the IG said. He, however, did not reveal the name of the fourth accused arrested in this case. “We have arrested four persons in this connection, but the identity of the fourth accused cannot be disclosed as it would affect our investigation,” the IG said.