In a significant crackdown on financial crime, police in Guwahati intercepted a large consignment of counterfeit currency, preventing its planned circulation across Assam. The operation, led by the Garchuk police station, resulted in the seizure of fake Indian currency notes with a face value of Rs 10 lakh and the arrest of one individual.
Interception Based on Intelligence
The breakthrough occurred on Monday night at a police checkpoint established in the city's Katabari area. Acting on reliable intelligence inputs, officers from the Garchuk police station stopped a motorcycle for inspection. The vehicle was registered in the Kamrup (Metropolitan) district.
Vikram Basumatary, the Officer-in-Charge of Garchuk police station, stated that a thorough search of the rider's belongings led to the discovery. "The fake Indian currency notes were recovered from his bag, where they had been carefully concealed," OC Basumatary explained.
Accused Identified and Source Traced
The arrested individual has been identified as Santanu Talukdar (48), a resident of Boragaon in Guwahati. Preliminary investigations conducted by the police have revealed a concerning interstate link.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (West District), Numal Mahatta, disclosed that initial findings suggest Talukdar had procured the counterfeit notes from the neighbouring state of Mizoram. Police sources indicated that Talukdar was actively planning to distribute the forged notes across various parts of Assam, which could have severely disrupted the local economy.
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Investigation
The legal machinery moved swiftly following the arrest. The accused was produced before a local court on Tuesday. The court granted the police three days of custody for further interrogation.
DCP Mahatta emphasized that the questioning during this custody period will be crucial. The primary focus will be on tracing the ultimate source of the counterfeit currency and uncovering the wider network involved in its production and distribution. This includes identifying any interstate accomplices or organised rackets behind the operation.
A formal case has been registered against Santanu Talukdar at the Garchuk police station. He has been charged under relevant sections of the new Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita Act, including sections 61(2), 420, 30, and 3(5). The police have affirmed that the investigation is ongoing to fully assess the scale and reach of this counterfeit currency racket.
