City Police have nabbed two members of a major fake currency racket engaged in circulating counterfeit currency in various parts of south India. Police recovered fake currency to the tune of `6.51 lakh in denominations of Rs 1,000, Rs 500 and Rs 100 from the possession of the duo.
The two arrested were identified as Thankaraj, 61, of Vadassery, Vellar Street in Nagercoil district and Mani, 60, of Gandhipalayam, Settikkara in Dharmapuri district.
The two were nabbed from the Kollam Railway Station the other day. City Police Commissioner Debesh Kumar Behera told mediapersons here on Thursday that the racket is suspected to have links with Naxalite elements and a probe has been launched in this direction. The case might be handed over to the Crime Branch or NIA, depending on the gravity and extent of the crime, he said. Kollam East Police Sub-Inspector G Gopakumar, who led the arrests, said that Thankaraj was wanted in four counterfeit currency cases probed by the Thiruvananthapuram Crime Branch.