The Central Division police on Tuesday claimed to have cracked an international counterfeit currency and illegal arms dealing racket. Nine people have been arrested in this connection.
Fake notes worth Rs 40 lakh, three carbine sten guns, six pistols and 60 live bullets have been recovered. At a press conference, City Police Commissioner B G Jyothiprakash Mirji said the accused involved in the case had international links. However, he did not reveal whether they had any connection with Pakistan ISI.
“The investigation is still in a preliminary stage and more arrests are likely. I cannot divulge much information,” he said.
The accused have been identified as Rehman, 32, Jeevan Paramneet, 26, Santu Singh, 21, Ranjith, 26, Pradeep, 28, Vasith, 26, all natives of Malda district on India-Bangladesh border, Balu, 34, of Bangalore, Sambashiva, 35, and Mohan, 34, both from Tamil Nadu.
Mirji said on a tip off that the accused had stocked counterfeit currencies and arms at a lodge in Sampangiramanagar, they raided the place.
“ACP of Ulsoor Gate sub-division Nyamagowda raided the lodge and nine persons were arrested. They revealed that they have a network in Karnataka and Tamil Nadu for circulation of fake notes,” Mirji explained.
Among the 60 recovered bullets, 40 are of 0.22 mm and 20 are 9 mm bullets.
The fake notes seized includes 7,600 notes of Rs 500 face value and 200 notes of Rs 1,000 face value.