Kerala Imam, aide held for keeping Pakistan-printed fake Indian notes.

published on February 15, 2013

KOCHI : Police arrested an imam of a city-based mosque and his assistant for possession of Pakistan-printed fake Indian currencies in denominations of Rs 500, Rs 100 and Rs 20 on Tuesday.

The imam – Sayid (88) of Ernakulam – and his aide -Yeshiar (22) of Bihar – were produced at the Ernakulam district magistrate court on Wednesday.

The court sent Yeshiar into police custody. Sayid will remain in judicial custody.

The police raided the mosque at Kadavanthra based on a tip given by Yeshiar. Yeshiar was nabbed while he was trying to deposit a sum of Rs 10,050, all fake notes, at a nationalized bank in the city.

The police recovered fake currencies to the tune of Rs 30,000. The currencies have been sent to forensic science laboratory. A team of IB grilled the accused as Yeshiar had been to Delhi and Mumbai before reaching Kochi two months ago. The police have collected cellphone call details of both the accused.