3 women held with fake currency

Hyderabad: The Tappachabutra Police on Thursday busted a gang of four persons, including three women who were involved in changing the fake notes into original ones. Police seized Rs 36,000 (counterfeit), Rs 45,820 (original), a four-wheeler, a bike and four cell phones from their possession.

The accused identified as Dokka Laxmi Narayana, 42, a tailor shop owner, with the help of his staff – E Anitha and K Saritha, both 24 years of age and G Harika, 22 – were trying to change the fake currency into original. The kingpin, Srinath Reddy of Ananthapur is absconding, the cops said.

During a routine vehicle check on Thursday, the cops intercepted a four-wheeler at Tappachabutra junction. After searching the suspected, two bags of counterfeit notes and original notes in the denomination of Rs 1,000 notes were found. During interrogation, Dokka revealed that Srinath Reddy gave him fake notes of Rs 1.24 lakh which he planned to exchange by circulating it at small shops at various places.

“He engaged his tailoring shop staff in the crime by offering them a commission. They used to buy small quantity of household articles or food grains using fake notes and used to return the balance original notes to him,” DCP (W) A Venkateshwara Rao said.