Baripada: Baripada police in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district busted a fake Indian currency note (FICN) racket in the town during the investigation into a missing person case, a source said Sunday.
According to the source, locals detained one person called Gajendra Behera on allegations of circulating fake currency notes. As Gajendra did not return home, his father lodged a missing report at the local police station.
While investigating the missing case, police discovered the fake currency note racket and detained as many as seven persons in this connection, informed the source.
A couple identified as Ranjita Behera and her husband is said to be the mastermind of the racket where Gajendra worked as an agent.
The couple allegedly lured people into a return of Rs 10 lakh on an investment of Rs 3 lakh. The return, however, was paid using fake currency notes.
The couple was operating the racket with some other agents. They used to circulate fake notes in Odisha’s Mayurbhanj district along with states such as West Bengal and Jharkhand, the police source added.
Police arrested as many as seven persons in connection with the fake note racket and booked three in connection with the kidnapping case.
PNN