Hyderabad: A three-member gang circulating alleged counterfeit currency was busted at Balapur on Wednesday. Task Force sleuths of Shamshabad zone seized Rs 2.91 lakh worth of fake Indian currency notes (FICN) from their possession.The arrested accused were identified as Ramavath Ramu alias Mohammed, 36, a food delivery executive, Ramavath Mothilal, 35, a bike-taxi rider, and Ramavath Gandhi, 19, an auto driver, all residents of Chinthal Thanda in Vaddipatla, Nalgonda district. A fourth accused, Sudheer John Chela alias Vamshi of Nagole, is absconding.According to additional deputy commissioner of police (Addl DCP), Task Force, KS Rao, main accused Ramu, who was facing financial hardships, decided to prepare counterfeit currency after watching videos on YouTube and Instagram. Ramu discussed his plan with Mothilal, who contacted an unknown person through a phone number available online in a video on manufacturing counterfeit currency. “The unknown person guided the accused on the equipment and materials needed, including a printer, scanner and paper,” the additional DCP said.As per the instructions from the unknown offender, the gang printed fake currency notes and circulated them in small numbers at liquor shops and vegetable markets, mostly during night hours. As they were attempting to circulate the fake currency, Task Force police received an alert and nabbed the the trio from Balapur on Wednesday.Police recovered 437 pieces of counterfeit Rs 500, 648 pieces of Rs 100 and 39 pieces of Rs 200 denomination currency notes, along with a colour printer, a scanner, a laminator, liquid colours, watermark paper and other material used for the printing of the counterfeit notes. The accused and seized property have been handed over to the Balapur police for further investigation.
