CB-CID counterfeit currency case against Serina dismissed

Madurai, Dec 13 (UNI) A trial court here today dismissed the petition of the State CB-CID Police implicating counterfeit currency case accused Serina and three others, including her mother.

Special Judge M Manickam, hearing the case on a direction from the Madurai Bench of Madras High Court, dismissed the petition seeking possession of the currency notes seized from Serina's residence during a later night raid and arrest on July 2003.

Rejecting the plea of the CB-CID, the judge referred to the RBI certifying that the currencies were genuine and printed at Nashik and let into circulation, prior to their seizure. As such, there was no ground to hand over the cash to the CB-CID, since no further investigation was necessary, the judge observed.

Serina, her mother, Remija, Driver Satheesh and Jegadish Raja, a landlord from Tirunelveli district, were arraigned as the accused in the case.

The Karupayurani police registered the case on a complaint from the Income Tax Department that fake currencies amounting of Rs 30 lakh were found in the Rs 1.40 crore cash seized from her residence.

A special team, headed by an Additional SP, was also formed to probe the matter.

This was after the acquittal of Serina and others in the case relating to seizure of narcotics along with the Rs 1.40 crore cash.

The trial court had earlier ruled that the cash belonged to the landlord Jegadish Raja.

The High Court Bench, on a petition from the CB-CID, directed the trial judge to hear the case and pass appropriate orders.

The trial judge, Mr Manickam, hearing cases under the NDPS Act, issued summons to the IT Department, local branches of the India Overseas Bank and Bank of Baroda, besides the accused to decide the case.

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