Bhubaneswar: Three persons were arrested in Bhadrak for allegedly selling Rs 2,000 notes, which are withdrawn from market, to gullible people on the plea that the notes would bring good fortune to home Bhadrak district.
The arrested persons are Subal Kumar Choudhury, Laxmidhar Pati and Pati Khan.
A journalist by profession, Subal Kumar Choudhury of Tentlikhunti area of Nabarangpur district introduced himself as Odisha correspondent of a media company. Instead of covering news, he used to do black marketing of Rs 2000 denomination notes. He used to sell the note at Rs 10,000 to Rs 15,000 spreading the superstition that these notes are auspicious for home.
One Laxmidhar Pati of Baikunthpur village of Basudebpur police station met with Subal and both started the racket. They used to sell the notes at exorbitant prices to gullible people.
On being informed, Basudevpur police investigated the incident. Police found its link to Baikunthpur during the investigation. A police team reached the village and arrested the mastermind Subal and Laxmidhar Pati and another person named Pati Khan.
Police seized 51 number of Rs 2000 denomination notes, 30 numbers of 500 denomination notes. A total of Rs 1.15 lakh was seized from them, Basudevpur police officer Lopamudra Nayak said.
Others’ involvement in the racket is being investigated. If any other is found involved in it will be arrested, she added.
