The Neyyar Dam police have busted a counterfeit currency racket and arrested four people. A bundle of fake notes and the equipment used for printing them were also confiscated in a raid.
Those arrested were identified as Shajahan, 27, Arshad, 27, Shereef, 42, of Kuttichal, and Soud, 21, of Kottoor.
The racket was exposed when the prime accused, Shajahan, used a fake note of ₹200 while purchasing a box of cigarettes.
Sensing something amiss, the trader alerted the police, following which Shajahan was taken into custody for questioning.
The other accused were subsequently apprehended on the basis of information divulged by Shajahan.
Also seized
A bundle of ₹200 and ₹100 fake notes, and various items that were used to printing the counterfeit currency, including a printer and ink, were also seized.
According to Neyyar Dam sub-inspector S. Sreekumar, the gang has purportedly confessed to have been operating the racket for around six months and is suspected to have circulated several fake notes.
The case is likely to be handed over to the Economic Offences wing of the Crime Branch Crime Investigation Department.