Kannur, June 27: In a major crackdown on fake currency racket in Kerala, police today claimed to have arrested a prime accused in the racket and seized fake currencies worth the face value of Rs 26 lakh. On a tip-off from one Bhagirathan, a key accused and one of the six arrested in connection with the recent seizures of fake currencies to the tune of Rs 3.5 lakh, police arrested Firoz, whose father was among the arrested, from his Palakkad residence last night, police said.

Sustained interrogation of Firoz led the police team to a building in the remote Olappara hills in Palakkad district from where they seized fake Indian currencies with a total face value of rs 18 lakh in the denomination of Rs 1000, Rs 500, Rs 100 and Rs 50, besides fake Saudi Riyal and US dollars amounting to Rs eight lakh.

Police also seized electronic gadgets including sophisticated printer-cum-scanner-cum-copier used in the production of fake currencies.

Police said the gang members earlier operated from Tamil Nadu's Udhagamandalam town and later shifted to a place falling under Vazhikkadavu Police Station limits in Kerala's Malappuram district.

Bureau Report