Bantwal: Police bust Kerala-based gang involved in circulating fake notes

In a significant breakthrough, the Bantwal city police have apprehended a Kerala-based gang allegedly involved in the exchanging of counterfeit currency.

The operation resulted in the arrest of two individuals, Mohammad C.A. (61) and Kamarunneesa (41), residents of Churi village in Kudlu, Kasaragod. However, another suspect, Sharif, is still absconding.

The arrest came following vigilant monitoring by Bantwal Nagar police station PSI Ramakrishna who noticed a Kerala-registered car parked suspiciously on the highway side. Upon approaching the vehicle, the occupants attempted to flee, leading to the arrest of two individuals, including a woman.

During interrogation, the suspects confessed to their involvement in a scheme whereby they would bring fake currency notes from Kerala and exchange them at local shops in Thumbe, B.C. Road. They would pose as customers, purchasing inexpensive items worth Rs. 500 and tendering the counterfeit notes as payment. Subsequently, they would abscond after receiving the legitimate change.

The modus operandi of the gang involved systematically emptying the fake notes across multiple locations, while also reselling the purchased items in their Kerala-based shop.

The Bantwala city police have initiated a thorough investigation into the matter, suspecting the existence of a larger network behind the operation. They are probing potential connections to previous incidents and determining the extent of the syndicate’s activities.