Probing the seizure of fake Indian currency notes (FICN) worth Rs 1 crore,the CBI has found involvement of an international racket with roots in Pakistan. The CBI took over the probe from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence,which had arrested two Turks and an Indian in July this year with FICN worth Rs 1 crore. The notes were hidden in a cavity in a Mercedes bus,which the duo drove from Turkey to India. The investigators found the two drove from Turkey to Iran and then to Pakistan,entering India with valid travel documents. They then went to Bangladesh,and came back with bundles of FICN. Their interrogation revealed they were paid for the trip from Bangladesh to India and promised a handsome reward once the consignment was delivered. It was on their way back that they were detected by Indian agencies. This consignment was supposed to be delivered in India and the money is believed to have been printed in the neighbouring country, said a CBI officer. The questioning of the duo Mehmood,41,and Hussain,43 also revealed that they started from Turkey in April and took two months to reach Bangladesh. We are also looking at the possibility that the two were involved in the smuggling racket and had plans to pick a consignment from India for Turkey or Pakistan, said the officer. The agency,which has requested Interpol to trace the person who gave the consignment to the duo,claimed to have identified one person in India who was supposed to distribute the fake currency. He is reported to be absconding. However,they arrested another Indian identified as Anwar,who had been arrested in a FICN case earlier also but was bailed out. The CBI also found that the two Turks were in contact with another person who gave them instructions from time to time. The two were supposed to deliver the consignment in Noida but due to lack of knowledge about the city,decided to meet in Delhi.
