Cong demands CBI probe into fake currency notes

Gangtok, Jan 5 (UNI) The Sikkim Pradesh Congress Committee (SPCC) today demanded a CBI inquiry into the frequent surfacing of fake currency notes in the state.

SPCC president Narbahadur Bhandari told newsmen here that repeated surfacing of fake currency notes in the sensitive border state posed a serious threat to the national security and should be inquired into by the national investigative agency.

The Congress demand came in the wake of seizure of fake notes worth Rs 24,000 in denominaton of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 from diffrentent parts of the state two days back.

Police had arrested three persons, including a father-son duo, in connection with the incident.

DIG Range Askhya Sachdeva said a case had been registered against the accused.

On the basis of information divulged by the accused raids ''are being conducted in South and East Sikkim and we expect to get to the bottom of the racket soo.'' The police swung into action after a taxi driver complained to the Singtam Police that one Purna Bahadur Tamang had given him a fake Rs 500 note after hiring his taxi from Ravangala to Singtam.

Interrogation of Tamang led to the arrest of two other persons from Ravangla in South Sikkim.

Fake notes have been surfacing in various parts of the state for quite sometimes now.

In September one person was arrested from West Pandam in East Sikkim for circulating fake currency notes.

Police seized fake notes worth Rs four lakhs from Tadong near here and arrrested some people then. The case is pending in the court now.

Mr Bhandari said the recent incident was third in order during the last four years and demanded a CBI inquiry to find out the men behind this anti-national activity.

UNI