Kolkata, 1 August (H.S.) -In a significant breakthrough, the Special Task Force (STF) of West Bengal Police foiled an attempt to smuggle fake Indian currency on Thursday night. Acting on a tip-off, an STF team conducted a raid at the SBSTC bus stand near Jubilee Petrol Pump in Asansol and arrested one individual with a large amount of counterfeit notes.

The accused, identified as Rajendra Kumar Yadav (63), a resident of Nituria in Purulia district, was apprehended with a total of 196 counterfeit ₹500 notes, amounting to a face value of ₹98,000. According to officials, the fake currency was concealed inside a sack of mangoes, which had reportedly been transported from Malda to Asansol.

Preliminary investigation reveals that Yadav had collected the sack containing the counterfeit notes and was likely acting as a courier in a larger smuggling operation. The STF handed him over to the local police, and a case has been registered at Asansol North Police Station.

Authorities have launched a detailed investigation to trace the source of the counterfeit notes and identify other individuals potentially involved in the racket. The seizure once again highlights the growing concern over fake currency being smuggled into West Bengal from border districts like Malda.

Indrajit Basu SP STF stated that further raids and interrogations are likely as part of the ongoing crackdown on counterfeit currency networks operating in the region.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh