Shillong, Feb 22: Former Garo National Liberation Army (GNLA) chairman Champion R. Sangma along with two others has been arrested by Assam Police for his involvement in running a Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) racket in Khanapara, Assam.
The other arrested persons have been identified as Gohan Ch. Sangma and Cherian Momin of Tura.
Acting on a specific input, the Special Squad and an EGPD team from Basistha Police Station in Guwahati intercepted a Bolero bearing registration number ML 07B 7998. A thorough search of the vehicle led to recovery of a purported bundle of FICN, a statement from Assam Police said.
Police further stated that Champion R Sangma (46), resident of Songsak in Meghalaya, told police that the pack is worth Rs. 15,00,000. However, the pack had only Rs. 10,000 in original currency notes and the rest was white paper.
Champion also told the police that he paid Rs. 3,50,000 to one Poresh Das and one Bijay Das at Kamrup Petrol Pump for Rs. 15,00,000 worth of FICN.
According to the crime branch, an inter-state counterfeit currency racket is actively operating in the northeast region.
