Mangaluru: Fake currency case – Accused sentenced to 4 years behind bars

Mangaluru: The Third District and Sessions Court of Mangaluru has sentenced an accused in the fake currency circulation case to 4 years imprisonment. The convict has been identified as Abbas (53) of Darbe House, Ira village, Bantwal.

Abbas was arrested in 2019 while circulating color photocopies of Rs 100 Indian currency notes in Mulki. As many as 16 fake currency notes of Rs 100 denomination were seized from his possession.

According to the charge sheet, Abbas had forcefully gotten 20 color photocopies of Rs 100 currency notes from a Xerox shop at Falnir Road in Mangaluru on October 24, 2019. He had claimed the photocopies were required for children’s school projects.

He tried to pass off the fake notes as real ones. On November 5, he bought a bottle of water and biscuits with 4 of the fake currency notes at shops in Mulki. He was caught after some people became suspicious when he asked for change and informed the police.

The then-Inspector Jayarama D. Gowda had conducted an investigation and submitted a charge sheet to the court.

After examining the evidence, the 3rd Additional District and Sessions Court Judge B.B. Jakati sentenced the convict to 4 years imprisonment and a fine of Rs 5,000 under Section 489 (c) of the Indian Penal Code and an additional 2 months imprisonment in case of failure to pay the fine. The court also sentenced him to 2 years imprisonment and Rs 2,500 in fine under 489 (c) and an additional one month behind bars in case of failure to pay the fine.

Public prosecutor Narayana Sherigar U represented the State in the case.