Pramesh S Jain
Following a complaint from RBI about fake currency notes received , the Halasurgate Police busted a racket and arrested ten people for their alleged involvement in tampering and selling Rs.2,000 denomination notes withdrawn from circulation.
The arrested have been identified as Mohan K,Srinivas Murthy,Raju,Basavaraj,Munishamappa,Mallikarjun, Ramakrishna,Palli Muralidhar,Ramachandra,and Mubarak.
Senior officer told reporters that the RBI’s Manager filed a complaint on October 17,stating that Rs.2,000 notes already withdrawn from circulation had been tampered with by changing their serial numbers before being deposited at the bank.
Following the complaint,police identified the depositor and arrested him from his residence in Cubbonpet on October 24.
During interrogation, the accused revealed that he had deposited Rs.40,000 worth of altered currency on behalf of two acquaintances,who promised him a commission.
Based on his information,the police arrested both associates were later near Mysore Bank Circle the same day.
Further investigation revealed that the trio had received Rs.8 lakh in Rs.2,000 notes from three other individuals, who had convinced people to hand over such withdrawn notes under the pretext of performing a “special ritual” that would allegedly multiply their money hundredfold.
The three men,arrested near Majestic Bus Stand on October 25,confessed to running the fraudulent scheme.
Based on their information,police apprehended three more suspects from Andhra Pradesh on October 28 and seized Rs.6 lakh in Rs.2,000 notes.
The accused also disclosed the identity of their associate who had modified the serial numbers and printed details on the notes.
He was traced to Yeshwanthpur,where police seized Rs.6 lakh in fake Rs.2,000 notes and equipment used to alter currency.
In total, Rs.18 lakh worth of fake Rs.2,000 notes were seized in the case.All ten accused were produced before the court on November 3 and remanded to judicial custody.
One female accused remains absconding, and efforts are underway to trace her.
Explaining the Modus operandi of the gang the CCB officials said that it was a bizarre scam involving three men among the accused who posed as“Swamis”and tricked gullible people into believing they could bring a “rain of money”through a special ritual using Rs.2,000 denomination notes.
The accused identified as Basavaraj alias Satyananda Swami,Mallikarjun,and Mohan alias Muniswamy would take turns dressing up as holy men to convince people that performing a ritual with specific series of Rs.2,000 notes would multiply their money several times over.
The trio told their victims that if they offered 100 notes of the (2018 HS series)Rs.2,000 denomination,it would result in a miraculous “rain of money.”
Claiming to have access to such notes,the fake Swamis would charge customers hefty sums—sometimes taking Rs.2 lakh and returning only Rs.20,000 to Rs.40,000 in so-called “ritual” notes.
Police said the accused used an associate identified as Mubarak,used to tamper original Rs.2,000 notes by altering the printed year and serial number.These modified notes were then circulated through agents to unsuspecting victims.
The Swamis conducted the fake rituals near lakes or ponds,insisting that the“pooja”must be performed alone, without any family members present.
During the ritual,they told the victims to dip in the water to bring on the “rain of money.”
While the victims submerged,the fake Swamis would flee with the money.
The gang operated in Bengaluru,Yadgir, Haveri,Andhra Pradesh, and Tamilnadu,police said.
So far, officers have seized Rs.18 lakh worth of Rs.2,000 denomination notes and the equipment used to tamper with them.
Police are verifying whether the seized notes are genuine or altered. The Halasurgate Police have taken up further investigation.
