Ahmedabad Police Bust Fake Currency Racket Targeting Online Shoppers
The Satellite police in Ahmedabad have successfully apprehended three individuals who were allegedly using counterfeit currency to purchase mobile phones through the popular online platform OLX. The arrest came following a specific tip-off about suspicious activities in the area.
The Arrest and Seizure
According to Police Inspector V J Chaudhary, the accused have been identified as Devansh Patel, Vaibhav Patel, and Sachin Kumar. The police team intercepted their silver Santro car based on credible information about individuals possessing counterfeit currency.
During the search operation, authorities made a significant discovery. 166 counterfeit notes of Rs 500 denomination were recovered from the suspects. The police also seized mobile phones that had been purchased using these fake notes.
Modus Operandi Revealed
The investigation revealed that the accused had developed a clever method to deceive online sellers. They would mix counterfeit notes with genuine currency while making payments for mobile phones purchased through OLX. This tactic made it difficult for sellers to immediately detect the fraud.
A key giveaway was that the counterfeit notes had identical serial numbers, which is a clear violation of the Reserve Bank of India's guidelines. The police noted this as a significant indicator of the notes being fake.
Further scrutiny of the vehicle revealed another attempt to evade law enforcement. The number plate of the Santro car had been altered to avoid identification.
Larger Network Uncovered
During interrogation, the accused disclosed that the counterfeit notes were supplied by their accomplices, Abhishek Gaurav and Arun Kumar Pandey, who are currently absconding. Both suppliers are reportedly from Kolkata.
The accused admitted to receiving the counterfeit currency from their associates and systematically using it for online purchases. Police are conducting further investigations to track down the remaining accomplices and trace the source of the counterfeit notes.
Legal Action Taken
The three arrested individuals have been charged under multiple sections of the BNS, including:
- Section 179 - Using as genuine, forged or counterfeit currency notes
- Section 180 - Possession of forged or counterfeit currency notes
- Section 336(2) and 336(3) - Forgery
- Section 340(2) - Using forged document as genuine
- Section 61 - Criminal conspiracy
The police have intensified their efforts to apprehend the absconding accomplices and completely dismantle the counterfeit currency network. This case serves as a warning to online sellers to be vigilant while accepting cash payments for high-value items.
