The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has begun probing the international links of a counterfeit currency racket following a series of arrests made by the Triplicane police in Chennai.
Police arrested Shabir Rahman and Bhuvaneswari, a Malaysian national, in Triplicane, and later detained Ravichandran from Orathanadu in Thanjavur district. During the operation, officers seized 15 passports from the accused.
Preliminary scrutiny of the passports indicated that the suspects had travelled to multiple countries, including Pakistan, according to police. Investigators said Bhuvaneswari is believed to have played a leading role in the gang.
In her statement to police, Bhuvaneswari reportedly said the group planned to deposit counterfeit notes at ATM centres across Tamil Nadu, including Chennai, Madurai and Tirunelveli. She also claimed that she and Shabir Rahman brought bundles of fake currency from Malaysia, while Ravichandran and his associates circulated the notes in districts such as Thanjavur and Tiruchirappalli.
With officials suspecting possible links to Pakistan-based terrorists in the background, the NIA is continuing inquiries to trace the network and its cross-border connections.
