A Crime Branch team recently arrested Mukesh alias Mohan Thakkar alias Parasnani, who had been held by the Ahmedabad police in similar crimes. During investigations, the suspect divulged the modus operandi of producing fake currency notes using computers and circulating them in the city through hotels, bars and shops.

The city police have been on the lookout for Parasnani ever since his wife Bharti Mohan Parasnani was held by shopkeepers last year for allegedly exchanging fake currency notes. Police had raided Bharati Parasnani's residence in Sakkardara, but the news of the raid had leaked to Mohan, who made good his escape before the police reached the spot.

Crime Branch officials interrogated Mohan, following which he spilled the beans. He told them that during his stayin the city, he used to produce fake currency notes of Rs 500, Rs 100 and Rs 50 denomination with the help of a multimedia kit and a colour laser printer.

However, Mohan knew the counterfeit notes never matched the real ones in toto. Hence, he would make his wife Bharati pass on these notes to shopkeepers after purchasing inconsequential items in the evenings. After handing over a Rs 500 note to shopkeepers, she would receive original currency notes of Rs 100 or less denomination. Parasnani, on the other hand, would exchange the notes at dimly-lit bars and restaurants, where unsuspecting owners would quickly accept them.

But Mohan's business did not flourish for long in the city. Bharati was arrested by police and he had to escape. Mohan later went to Aurangabad, where he met his friend Praveen Sable. On Sable's demand, Mohan produced currency notes worth Rs 2.5 lakh and gave them to Sable. However, there were differences between the two as Sable refused to pay Mohan's share. As a result, Mohan shifted toAllahabad along with the computers and resumed his business -- which is when he ran out of luck.

He was arrested by the Ahmedabad police at Allahabad and now by the city police. Investigations here are being carried out by PSI Yashwant Bawiskar under the supervision of Inspector Gangaram Sakharkar.