NIA submits FIR in fake currency case

KOCHI: Expressing serious concerns over the financial security of the nation, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) has filed the First Information Report (FIR) in the Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) case before the Ernakulam NIA Special Court. This is the first-ever FICN case probed by the NIA in the State.  The agency also sought permission for further investigation into the case to find out the terror link and the origin of the fake currency. The FIR, filed on Saturday, was accepted by Special Court Judge S Vijayakumar on Tuesday. The FIR was filed against the accused V P Pradeep Kumar of Cheruthazham, Kannur, L  Kamal Ummar alias Kamal Haji of Hosdurg,  Kasargod and M P Ashish of Mele Chovva, Kannur.The NIA submitted that wads of fake Indian currency notes of Rs 1,000 denomination totaling an amount of Rs 8,96,000 were found padded inside the cloths of the accused who were travelling in a car to Kannur. The Taliparamba police intercepted the car (KL 13 J 1084) on the National Highway at Kuttikkol at around 2 pm on September 18, 2011 following a tip-off. The arrested are suspected to be part of a network engaged in circulating counterfeit currencies. The offences were identified as those under scheduled offences and hence the probe was given to NIA by the Central government. “The accused were trying to destabilise  Indian economy by distributing counterfeit currency notes as genuine by mixing them along with originals,” the NIA submitted. The currencies had no Intaglio printing, no Reserve Bank of India print, difference in watermark of Gandhiji’s photo, variation in paper quality and it did not unfold back when folded, lack specimen security thread and also did not have any latent painting over laser light. The case was investigated by NIA DySP Muhammed Tajuddin Ahmed. The  NIA will soon request the custody of three accused in the case. The Agency is also probing into foreign links in the case. “The accused did not reveal the source of the FIC. So an in-depth inquiry  would be essential,” the NIA said.