Mumbai: The multi-crore counterfeit currency racket by the Dawood Ibrahim gang will be hit hard following arrest of underworld don Anees Ibrahim, the brain behind the financial operation of the gang's activities in the country.

Anees, younger brother of Dawood Ibrahim, had till date circulated over Rs 10 crore fake currency in India through his Indian-based aide Aftab Bhakti and a close network of Dawood aides in the country.

"Anees operated from Dubai but used both men and women to circulate the fake currency in all the major metros of the country, with Mumbai being the chief circulating point. The fake currency mainly comprised Rs 500 currency notes," a senior police officer said on December 9.

Anees, who is currently wanted in nearly 22 cases including fake currency, murder and extortion, had a major role to play in the serial blast case where he was responsible for delivery of arms. He is also wanted in the Gulshan Kumar case as a prime conspirator in eliminating the music baron.

The underworld don was also booked under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) in seven cases. "Anees is also wanted in the murder of an employee of Zaika Hotel in Bandra in 2000 and a major dacoity case in Colaba," the sources said.

According to police, the Dawood Ibrahim gang was running the counterfeit currency racket at the instance of Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence (ISI).

Anees, who is one among the six Dawood siblings, had the first case registered against him in 1981. He subsequently fled abroad in 1987 from where he continued to operate till date, the sources added.

PTI