The arrested persons at Araria SP Akhtar Hussain’s office on Monday. Picture by Mohan Mahto

Police on Monday busted a currency printing racket at Raghunathpur Bazaar under the jurisdiction of Bhargama police station and nabbed four persons.

Printing material and machinery were also seized. The arrested persons have been identified as Bharat Bhushan, 35, a resident of Bhairo in Supaul, Amit Mishra, 30, a resident of Raghunathpur, Rudo Yadav, 45, a resident of Sirsia, and Devdatt Ram, 40, a resident of Narpatganj of the district.

Bharat and Amit were arrested on the spot printing Indian currencies at a photocopy shop at the Raghunathpur Bazaar.

Rudo and Devdatt were arrested after Bharat and Amit divulged their whereabouts to the police.

The police recovered fake notes with a face value of Rs 12,000 from the possession of Rudo and Devdatt. In raids carried out at Amit’s shop at Raghunathpur Bazaar of the district, about 375km northeast of Patna, the police recovered half-printed notes of Rs 500, Rs 100 and Rs 20 denomination. They also seized computers and materials used in printing currencies from the shop.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team, led by Forbesganj sub-divisional police officer (SDPO) Raj Kumar Sah, conducted raids on Sunday at a photocopy shop at Raghunathpur Bazaar and arrested Amit and Bharat red-handed printing currencies of Rs 500 denomination. Amit Mishra owns the shop.

Superintendent of police Akhtar Hussain said: “We had information that a group of people was involved in printing Indian currency. Taking note on the tip-off, a police team led by Forbesganj SDPO Sah, conducted raids on Sunday and arrested Amit and Bharat on the spot.”

He added: “Rudo and Devdatt were arrested on Monday, acting on the information divulged by Amit and Bharat. Both Rudo and Devdatt were involved in supplying the fake currency to the market because we have recovered counterfeit currency worth Rs 12,000 from their possession.”

Hussain said the fake printed currency were used among illiterate people in local areas.

“They have confessed to the police that they target either children at shops or elderly people in rural areas. We have been striving to track down the kingpin of the racket. It is too early to comment on who else are involved in the racket.”