LUCKNOW: The Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorist Squad (UP ATS) has arrested a man carrying a Rs 25,000 reward who was allegedly involved in a cross-border Fake Indian Currency Note (FICN) smuggling network operating from Bangladesh through West Bengal into several Indian states, officials said on Saturday. According to the ATS, intelligence inputs suggested that a network of traffickers was supplying counterfeit Indian currency, allegedly printed in Bangladesh, to Uttar Pradesh and other states through smugglers based in West Bengal. The agency developed the case using electronic and physical surveillance, which helped investigators identify the syndicate’s supply chain. The investigation had earlier led to the arrest of Mohammad Suleman Ansari, a resident of Vaishali district in Bihar, and his associate, Idrish, also from Vaishali. The two were intercepted in Varanasi on November 19, 2024, with ₹2 lakh in counterfeit Indian currency. A case (Crime No. 524/2024) was subsequently registered at Sarnath Police Station in Varanasi, and both accused were sent to jail. During interrogation, the arrested men allegedly disclosed that the counterfeit currency had been supplied by Zakir, son of Azid Ali, a resident of Thakur Das Mandalpara, Deonapur, under the Vaishnavnagar Police Station area of Malda district, West Bengal. Investigators further alleged that the fake currency was smuggled into India from Bangladesh by a man identified as Rafiqul, after which Zakir distributed it through Suleman, Idrish and other associates for circulation across different states. Based on the evidence collected during the investigation, Zakir was named as a wanted accused in the case. As he remained absconding, the Uttar Pradesh Police announced a Rs 25,000 cash reward for information leading to his arrest. The UP ATS arrested Zakir in Malda, West Bengal, on July 3, 2026, and later brought him to Varanasi for further interrogation and legal proceedings. Officials said the agency is questioning the accused to identify other members of the counterfeit currency syndicate and trace the wider network allegedly involved in the cross-border smuggling and circulation of fake Indian currency. The ATS said further legal action will be taken based on the findings of the investigation.
