Prayagraj: The UP police have disclosed that a youth from Odisha is the key figure behind the counterfeit currency operation uncovered at a madrasa in Prayagraj.
The mastermind has been identified as Jahir Khan of Bhadrak district in Odisha.
Jahir Khan and Mohammad Afzal of Kareli, Prayagraj, were caught printing fake currency at the Jamia Habibia Masjide Azam Madrasa. Authorities confiscated 1,300 counterfeit 100-rupee notes, 234 uncut printed pages, a laptop, a colour printer, two reams of paper, and a stack of loose sheets.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (City) Deepak Bhuker reported that the madrasa’s cleric, Arifeen, had allocated a specific room for producing the fake notes.
Bhuker revealed to the press that the group has been trading counterfeit notes worth Rs 45,000 for genuine currency valued at Rs 15,000 for the last few months.
Sources indicate that Jahir visited the madrasa four years ago and has been implicated in the counterfeiting scheme for the last few months. It is also reported that the principal of the madrasa is from Odisha.
After Jahir’s apprehension, it is expected that the UP police will conduct searches in Bhadrak related to him. The police also plan to petition the court for the remand of the arrested individuals for further interrogation regarding the counterfeit currency.
In the meantime, the Prayagraj police have initiated legal proceedings against the detainees under sections 178, 179, and 180 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, pertaining to the counterfeiting and possession of fake currency and government stamps.
