CHENNAI: Nine people were sentenced to terms ranging from three to 10 years in two separate counterfeit currency cases in the city on Wednesday.
In the first case, a sessions court in Thiruvallur sentenced five persons to 10 years imprisonment in a 2009 case. According to prosecution, on March 31, 2009, Dinakaran and four others were arrested for possession and circulation of counterfeit currencies. Fake notes in the denomination of `1000, `500 and `100 for the face value of `12.69 lakh and a motor cycle were seized. The case was investigated by the CB-CID.
When the trial came up for final hearing, the Sessions Judge convicted Dinakaran, Kothanda Rao, Ramar, Pichaikaniraja and Thiyagarajan and sentenced them to 10 years and slapped a fine of `10,000 each.
In the second case, four persons were found guilty by a trial court here in a 2001 case and were sentenced to three years imprisonment.
According to the prosecution, on July 22, 2001, eight persons, including the prime accused Murali, were arrested for running a fake currency racket besides printing school and transfer certificates. Counterfeit currencies in the denomination of `100 for the face value of `6,900 and the photocopying machine were seized during the arrest at Anna Nagar’s Jamuna Xerox shop.
The case was transferred to the CB-CID on November 20, 2001. The Sessions judge sentenced Murali, Venkat, Kumar and Kanniappan to three years imprisonment and acquitted Pannerselvam, Thangamani, Balaji and Loganathan.