May 18th 2024.
In Bhubaneswar, a significant verdict was reached on Saturday by the Assistant Sessions Judge in Titilagarh, convicting an individual involved in a fake currency note case. The convicted individual, Lingaraj Behera, was given a sentence of 5 years of rigorous imprisonment for the offence under Section 489-B of the Indian Penal Code, along with 3 years of imprisonment for the offence under Section 489-C. The judge ordered that both punishments will be served concurrently.
According to the prosecution, the incident took place on February 1, 2023 near the park of Titlagarh Bus stand when Lingaraj Behera, along with his associate Dharmu Rana, was caught dealing with fake currency notes. The accused had obtained the notes from Jharkhand and Bihar. While Lingaraj Behera was apprehended and charged, Dharmu Rana was able to escape from the scene. During the search, a printed airbag containing fake currency notes worth Rs. 31,27,500 was seized from Lingaraj Behera's possession.
After a thorough investigation, a charge sheet was submitted against the accused under Sections 489-A, 489-B, 489-C, and 120 of the Indian Penal Code. The trial was conducted against Lingaraj Behera, where the prosecution presented nine witnesses and 21 documents as evidence. The seized fake currency notes were sent to the Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Ltd in West Bengal for chemical examination and opinion, which confirmed their counterfeit nature.
The STF, which is a specialized wing of the Odisha Police dedicated to curbing organized crime, has made tackling fake currency notes one of its top priorities. They have been actively pursuing such criminals and this conviction is a testament to their efforts. This is the first conviction in recent years in Odisha, according to sources from the STF. A non-bailable warrant has been obtained for the other absconding accused.
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