Fake Currency Notes Worth $3 Million Found in Bengaluru; Police File FIR

Strategic Insights -

In a surprising turn of events, a ragpicker, Kiran Parashar Saleman, stumbled upon 23 bundles of US dollars wrapped in paper near the Nagawara railway station in Bengaluru. Handing over the currency notes worth $3 million to the Hebbal police, Saleman's life took a drastic turn when his employer, Touhidul Islam alias Bappa, a scrap dealer, was kidnapped by five men allegedly seeking to lay hands on the fake currency. The assailants, who spoke in Kannada and Hindi, allegedly tortured Bappa before dumping him near the Manyata tech park. The Hebbal police have filed an FIR under IPC Section 489A (counterfeiting currency notes or bank notes) against unknown people.

Key Takeaways:

  • A ragpicker, Kiran Parashar Saleman, found 23 bundles of US dollars wrapped in paper near the Nagawara railway station in Bengaluru, worth approximately $3 million.
  • The currency notes were handed over to the Hebbal police, who checked with HDFC Bank, the nodal bank appointed by the Reserve Bank of India, and found them to be fake.
  • The fake currency notes were either "printed or photocopied," according to the HDFC Bank report.
  • An FIR was filed by the Hebbal police under IPC Section 489A (counterfeiting currency notes or bank notes) against unknown people.
  • Saleman's employer, Touhidul Islam alias Bappa, a scrap dealer, was kidnapped around 1 am on November 7 by five men allegedly seeking to lay hands on the fake currency.
  • Bappa was allegedly tortured before being dumped near the Manyata tech park around 9:30 am on the same day.
  • Social activist R Kaleem Ullah handed over the currency notes to Saleman and assisted in contacting the police.

Statistics:

  • Approximate value of the fake currency notes: $3 million
  • Number of bundles of US dollars found: 23
  • Number of police FIRs filed: 1 (under IPC Section 489A)
  • Number of people kidnapped: 1 (Touhidul Islam alias Bappa)
  • Number of assailants: 5

Sources:

  • The Indian Express
  • Bengaluru city police commissioner B Dayananda
  • Social activist and national executive member of Swaraj India R Kaleem Ullah