Special NIA Court Sentences Two Men to Rigorous Imprisonment for Circulating Fake Indian Currency Notes”

A Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) Court in Kolkata has handed down rigorous imprisonment sentences to two men for their involvement in circulating fake Indian currency notes (FICNs). The court’s decision marks a significant step in the ongoing battle against counterfeit currency in India.

On Tuesday, the Court sentenced Asim Sarkar, a resident of Pilibhit in Uttar Pradesh, to seven years of rigorous imprisonment (RI), while his co-accused, Aladu from Malda, West Bengal, received a five-year RI sentence. Along with the prison terms, the Court imposed fines of ₹10,000 on Sarkar and ₹5,000 on Aladu. Failure to pay these fines will result in an additional three months of imprisonment for each.

The two convicts were found guilty under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), highlighting the seriousness of their offenses.

The case dates back to 2019 when officers from the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized 99 fake ₹2,000 notes and two fake ₹500 notes from Asim Sarkar, totaling a face value of ₹1,99,000. The arrest of Sarkar led to the apprehension of two more accused, Aladu and Faijul Sk, by the NIA, which took over the investigation in October 2019. Faijul Sk is already serving a five-year sentence related to the case.

The investigation revealed that all four accused, including an absconding Bangladeshi national identified as Abdul Rahim, were part of a criminal conspiracy to procure and circulate FICNs with the intention of passing them off as genuine for unlawful gain. The trial against Abdul Rahim is still ongoing.

This case underscores the critical role of the NIA and other enforcement agencies in cracking down on the circulation of counterfeit currency, which poses a significant threat to India’s financial stability and national security.

For ongoing updates and detailed coverage of this case and other legal developments, visit Kanishk Social Media. If you found this article informative, please share it with others interested in legal and political affairs.