Cops suspect Kerala, Karnataka gangs

Tirupati: A few gangs from Kerala and Karnataka believed to have targeted the temple city of Tirupati to circulate counterfeit currency in a big way. Tirupati East police busted a counterfeit currency racket two days ago seizing fake noes with face value of 4.97 lakh currency. After grilling the accused in that case, police got many clues regarding the fake note transactions in temple city.

According to police sources, the accused in the case Ramachandra Rao, a lawyer, told the police that he had been receiving fake notes from Kerala via Bengaluru. Police started further investigation into the racket based on the information and are trying to establish the role of Bengaluru and Kerala gangs in circulation of counterfeit currency in the temple city which sees a large number pilgrims daily.

Under the direction of Urban SP Abishek Mohanthy, Tirupati central crime station (CCS) police formed a special team zero in on the masterminds behind the counterfeit currency printing and supply to contacts in Tirupati. 

Meanwhile, CCS police also received information that one more person, a native of Kadiri town of Anantapur district, was also involved in this fake note circulation case. This person is supplying fake notes to lawyer Ramachandra Rao Rao for exchanging them in the city among small businessmen and vendors.

About a month ago, CCS personnel nabbed a three-member gang based in Bengaluru involved in fake note circulation near Town Club circle and seized Rs 1 lakh fake currency. The seizure two days ago is similar to that case. Police now believe two different gangs from Bengaluru are supplying fake notes to locals to circulate them. 

Meanwhile, a few days ago two persons got counterfeit currency noes from ATMs of a leading bank near SV Nagar and Mahila University localities. They reported the incident to police as well as authorities of the bank concerned. Police suspect role of agencies that fill cash in ATMs too in fake not circulation. 

Police officials suspect fake notes with a face value of about Rs 20 lakh were circulated in the city, mainly in localities like railway station, bus station and at TTD rest houses of Srinivasam, Vishnu Nivasam where pilgrim population is high.

Tirupati CCS DSP Ravi Sankar Reddy told The Hans India that they had formed a special team for further investigation into circulation of counterfeit currency case. “Our personnel will go to Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala and Bengaluru too for further investigation. These gangs are suspected to have engaged local conduits, whom we arrested, to circulate the fake notes,” he said. 

By K Nethaji