Malaysian Caterer With Fake Currency Held In Chennai

By P.Vijian CHENNAI, Jan 12 (Bernama) -- A small-time Malaysian businessman is under remand in this southern city after police found counterfeit Indian currency worth thousands of rupees in his possession. The 45-year-old catering business operator based in Sungai Petani, Kedah, was arrested last month while on tour in Tamil Nadu, southern India. Police claimed he had 24 pieces of fake 500 Indian rupee notes worth 12,000 rupees or about RM750. "First, he gave a 500 note to a toll plaza operator and when the booth supervisor rejected the money, he gave another 500 note that was also found to be fake. "All the Indian currency notes he had were found to be fake. He claimed to have changed Malaysian currency to 30,000 Indian rupees at a bank at the KL International Airport before departing for Chennai," an investigating police officer told Bernama Thursday. The man was arrested in Mangalamedu Circle in Perambalur District, about 300 km outside Chennai on Dec 6. He is being detained under 489(B) and 489(C) of the Indian Penal Code for possession of fake currency and trying to cheat a person with the money. "He said he did not know they were fake currency notes and even dropped 2,000 rupees in an "undil" (donation box) at the Palani temple and 5,000 rupees at the Tirupathi temple. But we have booked him for possession of fake currency and cheating," said the officer, who declined to be named. The businessman arrived in Chennai, along with 10 other Malaysian tourists, but was alone with his driver when the arrest took place. He is now remanded at the Central Puzhal Prison in Chennai, waiting to be brought to the Perambalur Court on Jan 18. The case has been referred to the state's Crime Branch of the Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) and a probe is underway to check if the Malaysian is linked to a counterfeit currency syndicate. -- BERNAMA