Sunsari, March 14

Area Police Office, Dharan, made public five persons arrested for printing counterfeit currency notes in Dharan, Sunsari, today.

Organising a press meet on the premises of Area Police Office, Dharan, police paraded five persons involved in making fake currency notes. The arrested are Manish Rai, Min Kumar Rai, Raj Rai, Prakash Budhathoki, and Diwash Rai.

Manish and Min Kumar were held today while others were nabbed earlier, said DSP Rameswor Poudel.

The gang of five persons was cheating people by producing colour photocopy of original bank notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500. Acting on a tip-off, police had arrested Manish and Min Kumar while they were photocopying Rs 1,000 denomination notes at Quality Colour Lab in Dharan-7. Lab proprietor Ripesh Shakya was also held.

Police had expedited search operation after Raj and Prakash cheated a tea shop owner with counterfeit bank notes in Dharan-13.

DSP Poudel said that Raj and Prakash were arrested three days ago and a search was expedited to arrest others.

Diwash, Manish and Min Kumar were held on the basis of information given by Raj and Prakash.

Police have recovered four photocopy machines used to make fake currency notes and some sets of fake bank notes of Rs 1,000 denomination.

DSP Poudel said investigation showed that the people of the same gang had circulated fake bank notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 in Dharan and hoodwinked commoners. “Investigation is under way,” police said.