In a significant crackdown on counterfeit currency operations, the Prayagraj Police uncovered a fake currency racket operating out of a madrasa in the city on Wednesday, August 28. The police arrested four individuals, including the acting principal of the madrasa, identified as Mohammad Tafseerul Arifin, the mastermind Zahir Khan alias Abdul Zahir, and two students, Mohammad Afzal and Mohammad Shahid. The madrasa, named Jamia Habibiya, was being used as a front to print counterfeit currency notes.
Fake currency printing setup inside Madrasa
During the raid, authorities seized a large cache of counterfeit currency and equipment used in the operation. The items recovered included 1,300 fake 100-rupee notes, 234 sheets of printed but uncut fake currency, three bundles of blank paper, a high-quality printer, a paper cutter, a laptop, and other items related to the production of counterfeit money.
DCP City Deepak Bhukar, who led the investigation, stated, “We received a tip-off about individuals involved in dealing counterfeit currency near the Civil Lines bus stand. Acting swiftly, our team conducted a raid and apprehended three suspects. During their interrogation, we uncovered the location of a printing operation being run out of a madrasa in the Atarsuya area.”
Cracking Against The Counterfeit-
नकली नोट को असली के रूप में बाजार में चलाने वाले 04 अभियुक्तों को @prayagraj_pol द्वारा गिरफ्तार करते हुए उनके कब्जे से ₹100 के 1300 जाली नोट, 234 पेज छपे हुए जाली नोट व 03 बण्डल कागज बरामद किए गए हैं I#WellDoneCops#GoodWorkUPP pic.twitter.com/X1Ngg5N1et
— UP POLICE (@Uppolice) August 28, 2024
Mastermind and principal among those arrested
The arrested suspects include Zahir Khan, identified as the mastermind of the operation, who hails from Orissa and is also a student of the madrasa. According to the police, Zahir Khan had been running the fake currency operation with the assistance of the acting principal, Mohammad Tafseerul Arifin, who provided logistical support, including a separate room within the madrasa premises for printing counterfeit notes.
The raid on the madrasa, located near the Kalyani Devi Petrol Pump in the Atarsuya area, revealed a dedicated room where fake currency was being printed. During the operation, police discovered 234 counterfeit notes that were in the process of being cut and prepared for distribution.
DCP Deepak Bhukar further elaborated on the involvement of the acting principal, stating, “Maulvi Mohammad Tafseerul Arifin played an active role in the operation by providing a safe space within the madrasa for printing fake currency. He was aware of the illegal activities taking place and directly facilitated the operation.”
UP Police Raids Madrasa in Prayagraj – busts Fake INR ₹ Note Printing in guise of madrasa
Madrasa principal Mohammad Tafseerul, Mohammad Afzal, Mohammad Shahid and Zahir Khan arrested. 1300 fake 100 rupee notes, printer and other items recovered. pic.twitter.com/GLE2rr5hoR
— Megh Updates 🚨™ (@MeghUpdates) August 28, 2024
Fake currency operation exposed
The operation came to light after the Civil Lines Police received a tip-off about individuals dealing in counterfeit currency near a local bus stand. Following the initial arrests, the police interrogated the suspects, which led them to the madrasa where the fake currency was being produced.
The DCP emphasised the seriousness of the case, highlighting the broader implications of such operations on the local economy and security. “Counterfeit currency not only undermines the economic stability of the region but also poses a significant threat to national security. The involvement of educational institutions like madrasas in such illegal activities is deeply concerning and will be thoroughly investigated,” Bhukar stated.
Past incidents of fake currency operations in Madrasas
This incident is not an isolated one, as similar cases have been reported in the past where educational institutions, including madrasas, have been used as fronts for illegal activities. The involvement of students and educators in criminal enterprises such as fake currency production raises questions about the security and oversight of these institutions.
The arrested individuals have been charged under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita related to the production and circulation of counterfeit currency. The police are continuing their investigation to identify any additional suspects involved in the racket and to determine how widespread the operation was.
The discovery of the fake currency racket has put authorities on high alert, with increased vigilance around educational institutions suspected of harbouring illegal activities.
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