Delhi tops the list in fake currency seizures

Intelligence agencies have seized fake Indian currency notes of over Rs two crore face value during 2011-12, the highest seizure in past three years, with Delhi accounting for a major chunk.

The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence, which act as a lead agency to check FICN, seized Rs 2.16 crore in fake currency, of which Rs 1.56 crore was from the national capital.

It has seized counterfeit currency notes of face value Rs  29.88 lakh from West Bengal, Rs 20 lakh from Bihar and Rs 9.92 lakh from Punjab in the last year.

The DRI has arrested 13 people in connection with the seizures of fake Indian currency notes including six from West Bengal, four from Delhi, two from Punjab and one from  Bihar.

The agency sleuths had seized fake Indian currency worth Rs 1.44 crore in 2010-11 and arrested 29 individuals. Over Rs 54.87 lakh in fake currency were seized in six cases in 2009-10 and 10 people arrested in this connection.

The seizures were done from West Bengal, Maharashtra, Kerala, Bihar, Delhi, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Uttar Pradesh, DRI officials said.

"The menace of fake Indian currency notes is growing in the recent years. We have found involvement of an international syndicate in the whole racket of circulation of FICN," a DRI official said.

Officials said in majority of seizures the FICN was pumped in from neighbouring countries-- Pakistan, Bangladesh and Nepal-- through land, water and air borders.

"We are investigating the matter and sharing it with the respective intelligence agencies. The checkings along the international border have been intensified," the official said.

The seizures by the DRI is excluding the cases under state police forces and central agencies like the Cent6ral Bureau of Investigation among others.

The CBI has on Wednesday arrested three persons, including two women, for allegedly carrying counterfeit currency notes having face value of Rs 8.50 lakh in Lucknow.