God’s own country – A focal point for fake currency in India

Kerala is in a maximum situation with regard to hoarding and circulation of counterfeit currency. It is in the knowledge of everyone that Central as well as State intelligence agencies have sufficient information about terrorist  activities in the state, flow of explosives, arms and ammunition  to different parts of the country using Kerala coastlines. Almost every day the police catch someone with either the counterfeit currency or for trafficking of hawala money. The latest was on 16^th August when the DRI team nabbed four personnel (Moideen Mohammed and Mohammed Alshab, Sajil, Abdul Malik and Naushad) at CochinAirport with 72.5 lakhs counterfeit notes hidden in toys. Recently 66.24 lakhs fake notes were confiscated from SBI’s Sidharth Nagar branch in UP. The fake notes were placed in the bank by an employee. Even from a number of ATMs, fake notes were found and a few people in possession of such notes have to spend some time in jail too.  

 

As per the Naik Committee report published in year 2000, there were about 6100 crores counterfeit notes amounting to 1,69,000 crores rupees in circulation. Here we must not forget that the flow of fake currency printed in Pakistan initially has been through Dubai and other Gulf Countries (a year ago HK circulated a news item highlighting the modus operandi of counterfeit notes flowing from Gulf countries to India). But from 2000 the flow has been in  large scale and from countries like Nepal, Bangladesh and Thailand as well. Earlier the method adopted to distinguish the fake currency was by feeling the quality of paper. But now, the counterfeit champions are using almost the same type of papers which Government of India is importing from outside. Government of India is printing the currency notes at security presses situated in Nasik (Maharashtra), Devdas (Madhya Pradesh), Mysore (Karnataka) and Midnapur (Bengal). The printing machines being used are imported from a German Company named K.B.I.  It is now suspected that the counterfeit masters could be using machine of the same company and even the paper being used by them also could be from the same company from where the Government is importing. Hence, distinguishing the fake currency is a cumbersome process.

 

Central intelligence agencies have revealed on a number of occasions that the notorious Pakistani Secret Agency ISI is responsible for the printing and circulation of the counterfeit Indian currency and through dubious means they are aiming at the spread of terrorism and crush the Indian economy which is on the threshold of a revival.  Interpol, CBI and Revenue Intelligence authorities have confirmed that three prominent groups (headed by Abdul Rasheed of Puthoor, K.M. Abdullah and Abdul Rahim of Kanjangad) operating from Kasargod are managing the flow of fake currency from Pakistan via Dubai. The state government authorities have also acknowledged this reality.

 

So, the northern district of Kerala now has an additional title of being the counterfeit currency Headquarters like being the safe hide out for terrorists, explosive landing spot and the like. And who is behind all these? That is to everyone’s knowledge!! God alone could save us!
 

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