Key Accused Convicted in Malda Fake Currency Case, Sentenced to Five Years Rigorous Imprisonment

Faijul Sk, a key culprit in the Malda fake currency case, has been sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment by a Kolkata special court. Three other suspects, including an absconding Bangladeshi national, are still under trial. Faijul was found guilty of circulating fake Indian currency notes.

A key accused in the Malda fake currency case has been sentenced to five years of rigorous imprisonment by the special court of the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in Kolkata. Convicted individual, Faijul Sk, hails from the Gopalganj area of Malda in West Bengal and has been fined Rs. 5,000. Failure to pay will result in an additional three months of rigorous imprisonment.

Faijul was found guilty under sections 489B and 489C of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and section 16 of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act. The case, RC-23/2019/NIA/DLI, pertains to the seizure of fake Indian currency notes on September 16, 2019, by the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), which recovered 99 counterfeit notes of Rs 2000 and two of Rs 500, totaling Rs 1,99,000 in face value. The currency was initially confiscated from Asim Sarkar, who was subsequently detained.

The NIA, having taken over the investigation in October 2019, arrested Faijul Sk along with another accused, Aladu alias Matahur. A fourth accused, a Bangladeshi national named Abdul Rahim, is currently at large. The NIA has charge-sheeted all four for allegedly conspiring to procure and circulate high-quality counterfeit Indian currency with the intention of using it as genuine for unlawful profits.

(With inputs from agencies.)