In yet another fraud case related to foreign currency, a team from the Dwaraka Police Station arrested two members of a three-member inter-State gang here on Wednesday.
The arrested were identified as Md. Farooq from Delhi and Md. Babulal from Malda region of West Bengal. However, kingpin Md. Mohin from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, is at large. The modus operandi of the gang was similar to the three-member Bangladeshi gang that was busted in August.
The gang members, led by Mohin, would target gullible customers who are interested in buying foreign currency.
According to Dwaraka Police Station Circle-Inspector Shanmukha Rao, the gang members contacted one Melasi Eswara Rao on November 14 and asked if he was interested in buying foreign currency. When he showed interest, they initially exchanged a 20 USD for Indian currency and engaged him in a friendly chat.
Once convinced that Eswara Rao was in their trap, Mohin expressed that they had United State Dollars worth Rs. 6 lakh, but due to some reason they were ready to exchange it for Rs. 3 lakh.
Eswara Rao agreed to pay the amount in exchange of the USD and a time was fixed.
At the designated time, they reached the pre-determined place and gave Eswara Rao a bundle that contained a five dollar bill on the front side and a one dollar bill on the back. The bundle was securely tied and after handing over it, they collected cash.
The trick lied in tying the bundle. It took some time for Eswara Rao to open it and after opening it he found that except three dollar notes, the rest were just waste papers cut in the dimensions of USD. But by that time the gang vanished from the spot, said Mr. Shanmukha Rao.
Complaint filed
Based on a complaint filed by Eswara Rao on November 15, the police had been on the lookout. And on credible information that the gang was trying a similar trick near APSRTC on Wednesday, the police team reached the spot and nabbed the two. But, Mohin gave the police a slip.
“We are on the lookout for him and have sent an alert to all exit points from the city,” said the Circle-Inspector.
The police recovered Rs. 10,000 in cash from the two and 13 cell phones and 11 SIM cards from the house where they were staying on rent.
“It looks like they have a wider network across the country and we are also exploring the Bangladesh connection,” said Mr. Shanmukha Rao.
Two members arrested; kingpin
is at large