AURANGABAD: The district and sessions judge S G Shete on Monday sentenced a Jharkhand resident to 10-year rigorous imprisonment (RI) and slapped a fine of Rs 25,000 on him for possessing, using and buying goods with fake currency notes.

The convict, Shaikh Nazeer, was arrested in October 2011 when he attempted to pass the fake currency notes of Rs 1000 denomination as genuine ones. The court has also directed the police to file a separate charge-sheet against four others, who are absconding.

Additional government pleader Rajendra Mugdia said the convict was in prison ever since his arrest in 2011.

According to the prosecution, Shaikh had bought goods from cutlery and plastic shops in Kumbharwada area on October 23, 2011. He had offered Rs 1,000 denomination note to each shopkeeper. The first shopkeeper didn’t initially recognise the fake note, while the plastic shop owner grew suspicious and alerted the police while keeping Shaikh busy.

Police arrested Shaikh while his four accomplices managed to escape. The police recovered another Rs 1,000 denomination note taking the number to three.

After questioning, Shaikh spilled the beans and led the police to his residence at Chittegaon near Bidkin. Shaikh confessed that he was made to use such notes. Addition public prosecutor Mugdia said the police seized 18 more fake currency notes of Rs 1,000 denomination, genuine currency notes worth Rs 44,570, and groceries and other goods of over Rs 52,000 from his room.

The police also recovered three slips each showing that Rs 75,000 was deposited in an account in Jharkhand. They seized goods including hundreds of soaps of different quality and companies, which were bought in exchange of fake currency notes. The gang had also bought hosiery, shirts and other material. Their modus operandi was to approach crowded shops, buy goods worth Rs 100 or Rs 200 by offering fake notes. They would hoard up purchased goods at their Chittegaon residence and would dispose them of accordingly in exchange of cash.

The prosecution cross-examined 12 witnesses, of which one turned hostile. Following the arguments, Shete sentenced Shaikh to 10 years rigorous imprisonment under section 489 B of the Indian Penal Code and seven years RI under the same section for possessing and buying goods by using fake currency notes. He would have to undergo both the sentences concurrently, Mugdia added.

