New Delhi: Two women arrested with fake Rs-100 notes with a face value of Rs 27,000 five years ago have been let off by a court here with a fine of Rs 10,000 each as the police failed to trace the counterfeit's origin.

"The place from where they (Anuradha and Razia Begum) brought the currency notes could not be ascertained by the investigating agency nor the place where such notes were manufactured," Additional Sessions Judge Sanjay Sharma said.

While the court convicted the duo under Section 489 C (possession of counterfeit currency notes) of IPC that carries a maximum punishment of seven years, it took a "lenient view" saying that they were only found in possession of the notes and were "carriers."

It also concurred with the prosecution view that the recovery of such a huge amount of counterfeit notes from the women should be considered a serious offence because it affected the economy of the country.

Acting on a tip-off, the police had arrested Anuradha, a resident of Faridabad along with Begum on April 19,2002 from Vivek Vihar in East Delhi.
Anuradha was found in possession of fake notes with a face value of Rs 9,000 while Begum was carrying such notes of Rs 18,000 in the denomination of Rs 100.

 The prosecution, which examined eight witnesses to support its case, took assistance of a treasurer of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) to come to a conclusion that the recovered notes were fake.

While the defence made efforts to question the veracity of the expert's statement on the ground that the notes were not sent to the Currency Note Press in Nasik for a final opinion, the court rejected the defence plea stating "opinion of the expert could not be brushed aside." 

Source : PTI