Police seize fake currency worth Rs 60 lakh at Secunderabad Railway Station, arrest 19-year-old
Hyderabad: Government Railway Police (GRP) and Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel arrested a 19-year-old Rajasthan youth and seized counterfeit Indian currency worth Rs 60 lakh at Secunderabad Railway Station on Saturday, October 31.
The accused allegedly transported the fake notes from Jaipur to deliver them to an associate in Mumbai. Police intercepted him aboard the Mumbai LTT Express (Train No. 18519) on Platform No. 10. The arrested youth was identified as Shivratan Mahiya, son of Mahendra Mahiya, from Kalyansar village in Rajasthan’s Bikaner district.
Police said another accused, Om Prakash, 25, from Jaitasar village in Bikaner district, remained absconding. The joint operation involved GRP Secunderabad and the RPF Bomb Detection Squad during surprise checks of passengers and trains.
Fake currency seizure: Police recover 12 bundles of counterfeit notes
During the operation, police recovered 12 bundles of counterfeit Indian currency notes with a face value of Rs 60 lakh. The seized notes were in Rs 500 denominations. Officers also recovered an iPhone 14, a train ticket and a black backpack.
According to police, the accused carried the counterfeit notes inside the backpack while travelling towards Mumbai. The fake currency seizure followed a special checking operation targeting suspected offenders and individuals involved in criminal activities at the railway station.
Police apprehended Mahiya around 1.30 pm, shortly after he boarded the train at approximately 1.20 pm. During questioning, he allegedly admitted that Om Prakash had instructed him to transport the counterfeit currency to Mumbai.
Police said Mahiya became acquainted with Om Prakash a few months before his arrest. According to investigators, Om Prakash allegedly procured counterfeit Indian currency and transported it to Mumbai for circulation through his associates.
Police also stated that Om Prakash had previously faced criminal cases registered in Rajasthan and had served time in jail. Facing financial difficulties, Mahiya allegedly approached Om Prakash seeking an opportunity to earn money.
Om Prakash reportedly offered him Rs 20,000 to transport counterfeit currency, and Mahiya accepted the arrangement. On October 28, Om Prakash allegedly handed him a backpack containing counterfeit notes worth Rs 60 lakh at Jaipur Railway Station. He instructed Mahiya to travel first to Kacheguda in Hyderabad and subsequently proceed to Mumbai.
Accused travelled from Jaipur to Hyderabad before arrest
Following the instructions, Mahiya boarded the Mysuru Superfast Express (Train No. 12976) and travelled to Hyderabad. He reached Kacheguda Railway Station around 12.10 am on October 30, according to the police account.
Subsequently, he stayed at Hotel K. INN Lodge in Kacheguda before proceeding to Secunderabad Railway Station the following morning. Police said the accused initially planned to travel by the Konark Express. However, the train’s cancellation due to floods disrupted that arrangement.
Om Prakash then allegedly instructed him to board the Mumbai LTT Express on October 31. Accordingly, Mahiya boarded the train at Secunderabad Railway Station around 1.20 pm with the counterfeit notes.
Ten minutes later, GRP and RPF Bomb Detection Squad personnel intercepted him during their checking operation. The officers subsequently took him to the Secunderabad Railway Police Station and placed him in custody.
Senior officers supervise fake currency seizure operation
The fake currency seizure operation involved Railway Police Inspector B. Saieashwar Goud and his staff. RPF Inspector Bhavani Shankar Saraswat participated along with members of the Bomb Detection Squad.
The team included RPF Head Constables Metta Govindarajulu (HC 128), RSTTV Ramana (HC 628), SK Varma (HC 243) and P. Venkateshwarlu (HC 542). The operation took place under the supervision of Superintendent of Railway Police Y. Sai Sekhar, IPS, and DSRP Secunderabad S.N. Jawed.
Meanwhile, police identified Om Prakash as the alleged person behind the transportation arrangement. He remained absconding, according to the press note. Inspector General of Police, Railway and Road Safety, K. Ramesh Naidu, IPS, appreciated the GRP Secunderabad personnel involved in the operation.
He also announced that the officers and staff responsible for apprehending the accused would receive suitable rewards.