Major ‘Note-Doubling’ racket busted in Bihar
Palganj: A high-profile currency “note-doubling” gang has been exposed in Singasan village under the Baikunthpur police jurisdiction, leaving authorities and the public stunned. The investigation has implicated several prominent figures, including a Janata Dal (United) leader, a District Council member, and a government school headmaster.
The police, operating under the direct supervision of the SP, revealed that the gang’s operations spanned from Kolkata to Nepal, using chemical processes to allegedly double currency notes.
₹95 Lakh Cash, Machinery, and Chemicals Recovered
During the raid, authorities seized ₹95.27 lakh in cash, a sky-blue Godrej currency counting machine, and 25 liters of colored chemical stored in five-liter canisters. Additional items recovered included three liters of clear chemical and bundles of paper cut to exact currency dimensions, packed in three cartons. Vehicles belonging to the gang, including a black Scorpio and a Maruti Swift, were also confiscated.
Victims Nandkishore Rai and his son Saurabh Kumar were misled by a relative, Kameshwar Rai, and had traveled to Singasan intending to double ₹95.27 lakh. The police intercepted the transaction just before the cash changed hands.
Elaborate Scheme to Entrap Victims
The gang, led by Kamal Khan, Dilsher Khan, and Zoheb Ansari, allegedly targeted the headmaster of Balhan School, Kameshwar Rai, and his friend Pradeep Puri. Initially, the gang performed a small-scale “doubling” of ₹5,000 into ₹10,000 at Jaiswal Hotel in Motihari to build trust. This scheme convinced victims to stake larger sums, ultimately exposing them to the racket.
Investigation Expands to Political Figures
Eight individuals have been arrested so far, with names of prominent political figures surfacing during the investigation. Police are currently verifying the exact involvement of the District Council member and a district-level politician. Sadar SDPO Rajesh Kumar confirmed that some suspects appear to have political connections, though their affiliations are still under investigation.
Authorities continue to probe the network, emphasizing that the gang’s sophisticated methods highlight the urgent need for vigilance against such financial frauds in the region.
