A deep probe by Nagpur Crime Branch could expose a big ‘hawala’ racket and the involvement of mafia in the nefarious business
Nagpur: The Commissioner of Police Amitesh Kumar has handed over the Rs 30 lakh fake currency note case to Economic Offences Wing (EOW) of Crime Branch from Tehsil police. Nagpur cops are suspecting the ‘Hawala racket’ in the circulation of counterfeit currency. The Senior Police Inspector of Crime Branch Unit 3 Mahesh Sagane has started investigation immediately, according to a report in a local newspaper.
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Saturday 22 March 2025
It may be mentioned that Tehsil Police had launched a search for two persons for circulating fake currency notes of Rs 30 lakh in Kolkata by defrauding a Nagpur-based readymade garments’ wholesaler. The accused have been identified as Girish Rathi (45), a resident of Khamgaon, district Buldhana and his friend Kuldeep, a resident of Nagpur.
Rishi Janendra Modi (33), who owns a shop — Deep Readymade Bhandar — at Shaheed Chowk, Itwari, often purchased readymade garments in bulk from Kolkata. He came in contact with onion supplier Girish Rathi through his friends. Rathi was supplying onions to some traders in Kolkata. Rathi contacted Modi on September 29 and told him that he was in Kolkata and had to make a payment of Rs 29.94 lakh to his friend Kuldeep. By giving Kuldeep’s cell number 9680224681, Rathi requested Modi to give Rs 30 lakh to him. In good faith, Modi gave Rs 30 lakh to Kuldeep and informed Rathi about it. As Modi also wanted to give Rs 30 lakh to another trader Haji Sahab in Kolkata, he asked Rathi to hand him over the money in cash.
Rathi met Haji Sahab in Kolkata and gave him bundles of Rs 2,000 notes in a plastic packet. When Haji Sahab went home and opened the packet, he was shocked to find the fake notes of Rs 2,000 denomination. He immediately informed Modi about it. When Modi contacted Rathi, the latter started avoiding him saying that he would speak to him later. Modi then contacted Kuldeep but his phone was switched off.
Following Modi’s complaint, police registered a case under Sections 420, 406, 489(b)(c) and 34 of the Indian Penal Code against Rathi and his friend Kuldeep.
Now police are investigating from where the accused Girish Rathi procured the fake currency notes of Rs 2000 denomination. A deep probe by Nagpur Crime Branch could expose a big ‘hawala’ racket and the mafia involved in it.
Notably, Sadar police in Nagpur had recently arrested a 42-year old man on the charges of circulating counterfeit Rs 500 currency notes in the city market. The arrested man was identified as Vijay Dashrath Golait, native of Vrundavan Nagar, Akola, but currently staying at Byramji Town, Sadar.
Shammi Rampyare Gupta (58), resident of Hansapuri Khadan Tehsil, runs a tea/snack stall at Mangalwari, Sadar Bazaar Road. The accused Vijay Golait came to the tea stall and purchased snacks for Rs 20. He gave a Rs 500 note. However, after the accused customer went, Gupta realised that the Rs 500 note was fake. After some days, the same customer came and again purchased a snack for Rs 20 and gave a Rs 500 note. It was also counterfeit. On December 6, 2022, around 10.30 pm, the accused came to Gupta’s eatery and gave Rs 500 note for the snack of Rs 20. This time, Gupta was alert and checked the Rs 500 note which turned out to be fake. He then called Sadar police and lodged a complaint.
Sadar PSI Khandekar booked the accused Vijay Golait under Sections 489(B), 489(C) of the IPC and placed him under arrest. Cops are investigating the matter thoroughly as to from where the accused procured the counterfeit currency, whether he is a member of any gang involved in circulating counterfeit currency notes and other angles.
