In a significant crackdown, the Kutch West Special Operations Group (SOG) apprehended a 27-year-old man from Bhuj on Sunday after discovering videos related to counterfeit Indian currency on his mobile device.
Intelligence Tip-Off Leads to Arrest
The accused, identified as Aftab alias Altaf Khatki, was detained based on specific intelligence inputs. Police received information that he was allegedly following Pakistani gangster Shahbaz Bhatti on Instagram and had created a fake account using Bhatti's name, where he uploaded videos with criminal themes.
Acting swiftly on this tip, a police team led by Inspector K M Gadhvi located and apprehended Aftab from the Bhidnaka area of Bhuj. He was subsequently taken to the SOG office for detailed questioning.
Incriminating Evidence Uncovered
During the interrogation and examination of his phone, investigators found Bhatti's original Instagram account along with other suspicious material. The mobile phone was immediately seized and sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) in Gandhinagar for a thorough technical analysis.
Aftab also allegedly confessed to being involved in the illegal sale of marijuana. This led the police to search his residence, where they made substantial recoveries.
The seized items included:
- Marijuana worth Rs 33,450
- A locally made single-barrel gun
- Three spent cartridges
- A knife and an axe
- An additional mobile phone
- Children's toy currency notes in denominations of Rs 500, Rs 200, Rs 50, and Rs 20
Broader Criminal Network Under Probe
Further interrogation revealed deeper links. Aftab allegedly purchased 1 kg of marijuana from Bharat Vaghela for Rs 18,000 in cash approximately 15 days prior to his arrest. He also procured the illegal firearm from another individual named Sikandar Traya.
The police are now investigating multiple angles, including the motive behind creating the fake Instagram profile, potential connections to other criminal activities, and the intent behind the circulation of content related to counterfeit currency.
Kutch West Superintendent of Police Vikas Sunda stated that based on the evidence collected, Sub-Inspector M L Vaghela has registered a First Information Report (FIR) at the Bhuj City A Division police station. The accused, along with Bharat Vaghela and Sikandar Traya, have been booked under relevant sections of the NDPS Act, Arms Act, IT Act, and other applicable laws.
