Odishatv Bureau

Berhampur: The Commissionerate Police Sunday busted a fake currency note factory at Berhampur and arrested five persons including two masterminds in connection with the incident.

The arrested were identified as masterminds Rameshwar Maharana (43) and K Ramesh (53) of Berhampur and their associates Pranam Bhoi (19), Dilip Bhoi (23) and Sarat Sahu of Khurda district. Around Rs 4.65 lakh counterfeit notes of Rs 2000, Rs 500, Rs 200 and Rs 50 denomination were seized from their possession, sources said.

Acting on a tip-off, the Quick Action Team (QAT) of the Commissionerate Police arrested Pranam, Dilip and Sarat while the trio was exchanging the fake notes near Mahura Bazaar in Tomando area of Bhubaneswar yesterday.

Later during interrogation, the three revealed about the fake note printing factory at Berhampur following which the QAT swung into action and raided the factory.

Following the raid, police arrested two main accused Rameshwar and Ramesh while a printer, colours and papers used for printing the duplicate notes were also seized from the factory.

Further investigation revealed that the racket was running since last four years and the fake notes were used to buy old hanuman coins, smuggling brown sugar and body parts of wild animals.

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