A fake note racketeer and his accomplice were arrested here and counterfeit currency with a face value of Rs 8.90 lakh was seized from their possession, police said today.
Rafiq alias Noorudin alias Ismail (29) and his accomplice Shahul Hameed were arrested last night in a joint operation by the Crime and Special Branches of CID and "Q" Branch that handles cases related to national security. They were remanded in judicial custody and further probe is on, police said.
Rafiq, a habitual offender, faces nine criminal cases for circulating fake notes in Tamil Nadu sourced through conduits in West Bengal, police said.
A country made pistol with five rounds of 7.65 mm ammunition and two magazines were seized from them. Rafiq was detained under the Goondas Act in 2013 and was released from prison only in February this year, police said.
Shahul Hameed was used as a courier by him to bring fake notes from West Bengal, police said. Shahul had been to Kolkata by air in March and June where he reportedly met a counterfeit currency conduit.
He allegedly brought counterfeit currency with a total face value of Rs 13.40 lakh after his visits.
The West Bengal-based fake currency circulator also visited Chennai and had given over Rs 6.5 lakh fake currency to Rafiq, preliminary investigation has revealed, police said.
Yesterday, Shahul Hameed went to meet Rafiq after returning from Kolkata. He had brought yet another consignment of counterfeit currency with a face value of Rs 7.90 lakh. The courier and handler were both nabbed by sleuths.
A search of Rafiq's residence led to the seizure of fake currency with a face value of Rs 1 lakh, police said.
