Ahmedabad: Days after the city crime branch uncovered a major fake Indian currency note (FICN) racket involving a Surat-based yoga instructor and six others, investigators have now found indications of possible involvement of customs officials in facilitating the entry of specialized paper used for manufacturing counterfeit currency. This suspected link has widened the scope of the investigation and placed customs personnel under close scrutiny.According to officials, the counterfeiters procured high-grade paper from a supplier in China. The consignments were declared as regular stationery items but, in reality, the sheets closely resembled security-thread-embedded currency paper. Investigators said the material had pre-printed markings similar to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) security threads, significantly reducing the effort required by the accused. “The paper already carried RBI-like thread markings. The accused only needed to cut and print on it. Such consignments cannot pass through ports or airports without being cleared or overlooked at customs,” a senior crime branch officer said.This is the second instance in recent weeks in which customs officials’ alleged involvement has surfaced. Earlier this month, the crime branch busted an illegal exotic animal and bird trafficking racket in Navrangpura. Rare species were reportedly smuggled in through Chennai airport with customs clearance, raising questions about procedural lapses. Though a customs officer was not listed as a complainant in that case, investigators had flagged gaps in scrutiny.In the FICN racket, police arrested seven people, including yoga instructor Pradip Jotangiya, after seizing fake Rs 500 notes worth Rs 2.38 crore from an SUV in Amraiwadi last week. Subsequent searches at a Surat residence yielded more counterfeit notes along with printing equipment, cutters and paper stock.Investigators said the accused planned to infuse the fake currency into the market through land transactions and donations at mass marriage events — methods chosen to avoid detection and gain social influence. They were also in touch with angadias, through whom they intended to circulate the counterfeit notes.Police have invoked sections related to counterfeiting, forgery and criminal conspiracy. Further investigation is underway to identify the source of the specialized paper, trace the supply chain and determine the role of officials who may have facilitated the imports.
