MALAPPURAM: Banned currency notes worth Rs 2.46 crore were seized from a six-member gang by the Perinthalmanna police here on Thursday. The six men, including a lawyer, were arrested and an air pistol was seized from them. They were stopped by the police near EMS hospital, a few km from the town, while they were travelling in two cars. The arrested were Muhammed Anas, 39, Kannan Krishnakumar, 33, Muhammed Shan, 35, Maruthavila Achu, 26, Ansarudheen, 37, natives of Thiruvananthapuram and Thekkeyil Abdul Nasar, 29, of Areekode in the district.
The notes in Rs 1,000 denomination were hidden in the two cars. They were caught by the special squad led by DySP M.P. Mohanachandran following a tip-off. According to the police, the notes were brought to be exchanged with new notes in cooperative banks with the support of agents in the district. This is the sixth major haul of banned notes in the district during the past four months. On September 11, the Printhalmanna police had seized notes valued at Rs 3.14 crore and arrested three persons.
On August 9, the same police team arrested three persons and seized currencies valued at Rs 1.51 crore. On July 1, three persons were held and currencies valued at Rs 1 crore were seized. In June, Tirurangadi police seized banned notes valued at Rs 1 crore and arrested four persons. The Perinthalmanna police seized notes worth Rs 3.22 crore in the same month which is the biggest haul of banned notes in the state after demonetisation last year.
