TV
An Odia youth has been identified as the mastermind in the fake currency printing racket busted at a madrasa in Prayagraj, UP police informed. The accused has been identified as Jahir Khan from Bhadrak.
The gang leader Jahir Khan from Bhadrak, along with Mohammad Afzal from Kareli, Prayagraj, were involved in printing fake currency in a room at Jamia Habibia Masjide Azam Madrasa. The police have seized a total of 1,300 fake 100-rupee notes, 234 printed pages (uncut), one laptop, one colour printer, two bundles of bound paper and one bundle of loose paper from their possession.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (City) Deepak Bhuker said the madrasa cleric Arifeen had provided a separate room for the production of counterfeit currency.
“The gang had been involved in the counterfeit currency business for the past three to four months, providing fake notes with a face value of Rs 45,000 rupees in exchange for genuine notes of 15,000 rupees,” Bhuker told media persons.
According to sources, Jahir had been to the Madrasa four years back. While he was studying there, he was involved in fake currency printing for the past three to four months. Apart from Jahir, the Madrasa Principal is also reportedly from Odisha.
However, there has been not much information in this regard. Following the arrest of Jahir, UP police are most likely to visit Bhadrak and conduct raids at places linked to him. The officer also mentioned that the police would soon file a petition in court seeking the remand of the arrested suspects for further questioning in the fake currency case.
Meanwhile, Prayagraj police have filed a case against the arrested suspects under sections 178 (counterfeiting coin, government stamps, currency notes or bank notes), 179 (using as genuine, forged or counterfeit coin, government stamp, currency notes or bank notes), and 180 (possession of forged or counterfeit coin, government stamp, currency-notes or bank-note) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
They have also been booked under sections 181 (making or possessing instruments or materials for forging or counterfeiting coin, government stamps, currency notes or bank notes) and 182(1) (making or using documents resembling currency notes or bank notes) of the BNS.
On the other hand, Prayagraj police have also recovered a book comparing the RSS with a terrorist organisation that was reportedly used to "instil anti-RSS sentiments" among students. The book upon translation from Urdu to Hindi, was identified as SM Musharraf's book "RSS: The Biggest Terrorist Organization in the Country".
The police suspect that the madrasa's cleric, Mohammad Tafseerul Arifeen, was using this book to "instil anti-RSS sentiments in the minds of children".
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“I have also learnt that Prayagraj police have recovered fake currency notes and the machine used to prepare it from the room where he stayed. Police is currently investigating the case. As a father, I have never encouraged him to do such things and I will not support him now. No parents should support their children who take the wrong path,” he stated.
“He was weak in studies. So, I was angry and not talking to him since the last 7-8 months. He came home and met his mother. Police have not contacted us. He has not won any gold medal for the country, so the police should take appropriate action if he really is involved in such activities,” Sajid added.
