Bengaluru: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) Special Court in Bengaluru has sentenced Sariful Islam, also known as Sharifuddin, to six years of simple imprisonment for his role in a fake currency trafficking conspiracy. The court also imposed a fine of ₹5,000 on the convict.
Sariful Islam, originally from West Bengal, is the seventh individual to be convicted in the Chikodi Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) case. The NIA’s investigation revealed that he, along with six others, conspired to traffic 41 units of fake Indian currency notes, with a face value of ₹82,000, from the Bangladesh border to various parts of India.
Details of the Conspiracy
According to the NIA, Sariful Islam had fraudulently procured a SIM card to communicate with his co-accused and was involved in a series of transactions aimed at circulating counterfeit currency. Investigations showed that he delivered ₹10.30 lakh in fake currency to the main convict, Dalim Mia, in West Bengal.
The conspiracy, as detailed by the NIA, was designed to destabilise India’s economic security by flooding the market with counterfeit notes. The agency is continuing its investigation against two Bangladeshi nationals who allegedly supplied the fake currency to the accused. So far, three chargesheets have been filed in the case.
Ongoing Investigation
The conviction of Sariful Islam marks a significant step in the ongoing investigation into the FICN trafficking network. The NIA’s efforts to dismantle the network have led to the conviction of multiple individuals, and the agency is actively pursuing leads to bring the remaining culprits to justice.
Conclusion
This case highlights the challenges posed by cross-border currency trafficking and the ongoing efforts by Indian law enforcement agencies to safeguard the country’s economic integrity. The conviction of Sariful Islam serves as a warning to others involved in similar illegal activities that the law will eventually catch up with them.