Five people were arrested with counterfeit 2000 rupee currency notes having face value of over Rs 56,74,000 while trying to purchase a mobile phone in the port area of the city today.
The fake Indian currency notes (FICN) were in bundles wrapped in State Bank of India stickers, Kolkata Police Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Visal Garg told reporters.
The five were trying to buy a mobile phone from Watgunge area this afternoon. Suspicous about the notes, the shop owner informed the police, whose anti-rowdy section apprehended Manuar Molla (29) alias Ujjal, Abul Kalam Azad (37) alias Suraj, Sheikh Eklash Ahmed (29), Balai Mondal (23) alias Joy, and Syed Rehan (27).
"The shop owner informed the police when he had some doubts on seeing the notes paid by the accused while buying the phone. They had an altercation. A team who was close by reached the place, arrested the five accused persons and seized the FICNs," Garg said.
Molla, a resident of Howrah district, is considered to be the kingpin of the team with a of history crime, he said.
"Molla was involved in a smuggling racket earlier," he said adding apart from Balai, who is a resident of Bankura district, all four are from Howrah.
Police also seized five old mobile phones, two motorcycles and another scooty from their possession, he said.
"We are trying to find from where they got the FICN and what was their exact intention. We will also probe whether they are part of any gang," Garg said.
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