Sonepur: Birmaharajpur police busted a fake currency note racket and arrested three persons, including the prime accused, in Sonepur district today. Counterfeit notes worth Rs 42,500 were seized from their possession.
The arrested have been identified as the main accused Rajesh Kumar Sahoo of Gudvelipadar in Sonepur district and his two associates Sarbeswar Mishra of Panisiali village in the same district and Ranjit Nayak of Manamunda in Boudh district. Meanwhile, another accused Ramananda Pradhan is absconding and police have launched a manhunt to nab him.
"On April 14, they bought four goats from Thengua area with help of fake notes worth Rs 40, 500 all in Rs 500 denomination," said Birmaharajpur SDPO, Dhiraj Kumar Choppadar.
A complaint was lodged at the police station by the trader who sold the goats and found that the notes were fake, he added.
Based on the complaint, an investigation was launched following which the arrests were made today, added the SDPO.
Sources said that the seizure of fake note in Sonepur today might have links with the fake currency racket busted in Boudh on April 17, when police had arrested four persons and seized counterfeit notes worth Rs 1.06 lakh in Rs 2,000, Rs 500, Rs 200 and Rs 100 denominations. A printer, laptop, car and other printing materials were also seized in the raid.