Four members of international FICN racket arrested

A team of Special Cell/Northern Range led by Insp. Attar Singh and supervised by Sh. Nishant Gupta, ACP has arrested four members of an international FICN racket. The arrested persons are (1) Sheikh Sehzad s/o Sheikh Manjoor r/o Gali No. 1, Dawai Nagar, Meerut, UP (aged-39 years), (2) Sheikh Fazullah s/o Sheikh Habib r/o Village Mathwa, PS Tirkolia, Distt. Motihari, Bihar (aged-25 years) (3) Rahman s/o Maherban r/o Kotla Mewatiyan, Bulandsehar Road, Hapur, UP (aged 42 years) and (4) Habibur Rehman s/o Sheikh Mohammad r/o village Mohandai PS Bustonagar Distt. Malda West Bengal (aged 35 years). Fake currency amounting Rs. 10.25 lacs in denominations of 1000 and 500 has been recovered from the possession of arrested persons. Case FIR No 40/16 dated 25/06/2016 u/s 489B/489C IPC PS Special Cell has been registered in this regard.

Operation

Inspr. Attar Singh of Special Cell/NR was having an information about illegal activities of indulging in FICN circulation by the members of this syndicate for last 04 months. Secret surveillance was kept upon movements of members of this syndicate. Requisite intelligence in this regard was collected. Secret sources were deployed to gather more information in this regard. During surveillance, it was revealed that FICN is being pumped by Pakistan in India through Bangladesh. From there it was being smuggled in Malda West Bengal through Indo-Bangla Border. From Malda, it was being handed over to FICN racketeers in various parts of the country including Delhi. Painstaking efforts of more than four months has resulted in identifying members of this syndicate.

On 25-06-2016, the team received a tip off that two members of this syndicate would come at Ring Road, opposite DTC Depot, Wazirpur, Delhi to exchange FICN. A raiding party consisting of SI Raj Singh, SI Jeetendra Tiwari, ASI Sanjay, HC Dilawar, HC Harpreet, HC Suresh, HC Suresh, Ct Davender, Ct. Parvez Alam and others was formed. A trap was laid near DTC bus Depot, Wazirpur, Delhi where Sheikh Fazullah arrived at 06:15 PM and the receiver, Sheikh Sehzad, arrived 10 minutes later. Sheikh Fazullah handed over a packet of 2.5 lacs FICN to Sehzad when raiding party swooped upon both and they were overpowered. Total FICN of Rs Four lacs was recovered from both of them at the spot.

During the both the accused persons told that they were part of a big international FICN racket. Both belonging to same village in Distt. Motihari, Bihar. Sheikh Sehzad had made Meerut, UP as his base where he was living in a rented house and used to supply FICN to various persons in Meerut and Delhi. Sheikh Fazullah used to receive supply of FICN from one Jamal, a resident of Malda, West Bengal.

Based on the interrogation, third accused Rahman s/o Maherban r/o Hapur, UP was arrested near Dilshad Garden Metro Station on 27-06-2016 and FICN of Rs 25,000 was recovered from him.

A team led by SI Jeetendra Tiwari was sent to Bihar and West Bengal to arrest remaining members of this syndicate. Habibur Rehman was arrested on 01-07-2016 in Motihari Bihar where he had come to deliver another consignment of FICN. FICN of Rs 06 lakh was recovered from him.

Interrogation:

During interrogation, Sheikh Sehzad and Rahman told that they used to receive consignments of FICN from Bihar and then it was sold to retail customers in smaller quantities of Rs 10,000-Rs 20,000. The prevailing market rate of fake currency is Rs 40-50 for each Rs 100 fake currency. They told that since large transactions are still made in cash, hence, there is huge demand of fake currency in Delhi-NCR. They also told that the currency notes have most of the security features and it’s impossible to differentiate with naked eyes. They further told that all the new security features, that Government introduces, are quickly updated in fake currency notes also.

During interrogation, Habibur Rehman told that he is cousin of the main supplier Jamal and both used to run this racket in partnership. He revealed that many of his family members are indulged in smuggling of FICN. He was impressed by his uncle Naseeruddin who is a known name in FICN in the area. He told that the fake currency is being pushed into India by Pakistan through Indo-Bangla Border. He also told that exchange of fake currency takes place through Nepal border.

  Further investigation of case is in progress. Efforts to nab remaining members of this syndicate are being made. A team is already in West Bengal to arrest remaining members of this syndicate.

Profile of accused persons

Sheikh Sehzad (age-39 years):- Sheikh Sehzad has 04 brothers and 04 sisters. He is quite illiterate. He used to work in a butcher house in Meerut but he was in financial crisis due to poor salary. He was motivated to indulge in circulation of FICN by FICN racketeers of Motihari. He developed his network for further dissemination of FICN in Meerut and Delhi. He used to receive supply of FICN from Sheikh Fazullah who is also  resident of same village in Motihari, Bihar. He used to supply FICN to many persons in Meerut and Delhi for last 03 years.  

Sheikh Fazullah (age-25 years):- Sheikh Fazullah is quite illiterate. He used to work in butcher house in Meerut. He met with one Aash Mohd in Meerut who used to indulge in supplying of FICN. Aash Mohd lured him to work as carrier of FICN for him. Fazullah supplied FICN for two years as per his directions but later on he developed his own network of supply of FICN. He alongwith Aash Mohd were reportedly arrested in a case of FICN smuggling in PS Varanasi Cantt. in the year 2011.

Rehman (age 42 years):- Rehman was born in Mohalla Kotla Mewatiyan, Bulandsher Road, Hapur, UP. Due to poverty he could not go to school. He is quite illiterate person. He met Sehzad in Meerut who lured him in field of FICN smuggling. He used to receive FICN from Sehzad.

Habibur Rehman (aged 35 years):- Habibur Rehman belongs to Malda, a hub of narcotic and FICN smuggling. He is illiterate.  He belongs to a family whose many members are indulging in FICN smuggling. His uncle Naseeruddin is a notorious FICN racketeer. Naseeruddin was reportedly arrested in case of FICN in Varansi UP three years ago. Habibur Rehman along with Jamal jointly indulge in getting supply of FICN from Bangladesh and sending the same to various parts of India.