The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) of Navi Mumbai unit has nabbed a 24-year-old Mira Road resident in connection with high quality counterfeited Indian currency notes. The denomination value of Rs 200, Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 worth Rs 3,50,600 has recovered from him.
Acting on a tip-off that youth is coming to exchange the counterfeit currency near Sion-Panvel Highway, ATS laid a trap near Purshottam Petrol Pump in Kalamboli, Navi Mumbai. Police intercepted a biker without a number plate. Police asked him about the number plate and ATS nabbed him. Upon interception, police found 15 notes of Rs 2,000, 346 notes of Rs 500 and 88 notes of Rs 200, amounting to Rs 3,50,600. He was later identified as Faisal Idris Shaikh (24), a resident of Mira Road.
During the interrogation, Shaikh confessed to the crime. ATS then arrested him. Police booked him under relevant sections of the IPC and placed in Anti-Terrorism Squad police station. Police recovered publishing material from his house in Mira Road. During the investigation, he revealed that he has done similar offence earlier. He was released on bail in 2018 for a similar crime. Two years ago, he had published and distributed counterfeit currency notes worth lakhs of rupees. After the bail, he resumed the same work again.
Police also said that he might be a member of interstate gangs as Shaikh was in contact with fake currency operating gangs in West Bengal, Rajasthan and Gujarat.
“We are probing the case further and many things will come to the fore,” said the ATS officer.
