₹9 cr fake currency seized from Sandeshkhali guest house in Bengal; 2 arrested

Police reported that counterfeit Indian currency notes totaling ₹9 crore were confiscated and two individuals were apprehended at a guest house in Sandeshkhali, located in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, on Friday.

This follows several months after West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee raised alarms regarding illegal weapons and FICN entering the state via multiple pathways and directed the state police to enhance naka checking at state and district borders.

“We have arrested two persons. FICN worth around ₹9 crore were seized from a guest house in Sandeshkhali. Two persons, both residents of South 24 Parganas, have been arrested. Investigation is going on,” said an IPS officer of Basirhat police district.

Authorities reported that only ₹500 notes were stored in bags and cardboard boxes. Only the initial and final notes of each group were original. The remainder were all imitations.

In February 2024, Sandeshkhali experienced intense protests, primarily spearheaded by local women, regarding claims of sexual misconduct and unlawful land seizure by Sheikh Shahjahan, a powerful Trinamool Congress (TMC) figure, along with his associates. North 24 Parganas borders Bangladesh. Almost the whole perimeter is riverine and unfenced.

“The duo Debabrata Chakraborty and Sirajuddin Mollah had put up in a guest house at Dhamakhali, which is reportedly owned by one of Shahjahan’s close aides,” said an officer of Sandeshkhali police station.

The incident came to light after a local shopkeeper alerted the police. Mollah had gone to the local market and had given a note to a shopkeeper who got suspicious and informed the police.

“When police raided the guest house where the two were staying, they found bundles of currency notes. They were all of ₹500 denomination and were kept in bags and cardboard boxes. Only the first and the last notes were original,” said an officer.

The court saw the accused individuals on Saturday. The court placed them in police detention for 12 days. Authorities are currently investigating the origin of the notes and the intentions of the pair involved. The police also found two Aadhaar cards with differing identities belonging to Mollah. Several Nepalese currency notes were also taken from them.