Pak could be ‘smuggling’ fake currency via diplomatic route

Pakistan may be using a complex but clandestine diplomatic route to push fake currency into India.

This was revealed during investigations into the recent fake currency rackets busted by the Maharashtra ATS and other agencies, as also the arrest of LeT operative Mohammed Omar Madni, who was found in possession of fake currency worth lakhs by the Delhi police.

According to ATS sources, the fake currency found with Madni was of the same series as that recovered in various recent busts in Hyderabad, Goa and Mumbai (by the ATS).

ATS officers say that this proves that all the notes had been printed in the same press, and as the quality of the notes was top-notch, they could only have been printed in a government press (of Pakistan).

Investigations into several of these busts, as also the interrogation of Madni, for which an ATS team had recently gone to Delhi, have revealed a complex web of fake currency smuggling from Pakistan to India. ATS officers say Pakistan may be using diplomatic channels to push fake currency into India.

An ATS officer said, “Recently, a lot of fake currency has been pushed into India, as is evident from the many rackets busted in the recent past. We have learnt that some of this money is pushed through diplomatic channels to neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal, and then smuggled into India in smaller batches. As diplomats or their assistants and office staff have diplomatic immunity and pass through green channels without their baggage being checked at airports, fake currency in large numbers is pushed through them. Once the money reaches, say, Bangladesh, it is then handed over in small amounts to people who smuggle it into India.”

Additional CP, ATS, Parambir Singh said, “We had this information from intelligence agencies, and suspicions were also raised during our investigations. But as yet we have not been able to apprehend anyone. Thus, it is difficult to pinpoint how exactly the racket operates. It is, however, true that Madni was carrying fake currency of the same series that we had seized a couple of months ago.”

The RBI, in a recent investigation, had said that at least Rs 2,000 crore in fake currency has been pushed into India in the past five years.

The ATS and intelligence agencies had found that much of the profit from this racket was being used to fund Pakistan-sponsored terrorism in India, and there were indications that some of this money had also funded the 26/11 attacks in Mumbai.

IB sources say ISI raises Rs 1,800 crore annually to fund terror operations, and that a major chunk of it comes from fake currency rackets. ATS sources say that Rs 30 lakh of the Rs 50 lakh spent on the attack on Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, in December 2005 was obtained through such a racket.

Mamata Banerjee presents rail budget for 2009-10

New Delhi (IANS): Railway Minister Mamata Banerjee began presenting her ministry's budget for the current fiscal shortly after noon Friday with the promise of addressing the concerns of average passengers.

"People all over the country have high expectations from the railway budget," Banerjee told the Lok Sabha, the lower house of parliament, switching between English and Hindi.

She started with a question if Indian Railways, which runs the world's second largest railroad network under single management, should function purely on the basis of economic viability or address the social commitment.

"Time has come when our economic and social philosophers have to change their old mindset of economic viability and replace it with social viability and upliftment," she said.

Ms. Banerjee said her focus would be on better passenger amenities, good food at affordable prices, clean toilets at stations and trains.

"Fifty stations will be developed into world class facilities," she said naming those at Mumbai, Kolkata, Bangalore, Varanasi Guwahati, Chennai, Mangalore, Porbundar and Kochi, among others.

This is her first rail budget for the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) government and third in her political career.

PTI report adds:

Ms. Banerjee says an expert committee will be set up to advise her on implementation of the so-called economically unviable but socially desired projects.

She also stated that the priorities will include better passenger amenities, safety and security and provision of good quality food and drinking water.

The Railway Ministry has plans to develop important stations through private-public partnership. These include CST Mumbai, Nagpur, Pune, Howrah, Sealdah, Varanasi, New Delhi, Lucknow, Jaipur, Kanpur, Chennai Central, Thiruvananthapuram Central, Secunderabad, Bangalore City, Byappanahalli, Ahmedabad, Bhopal, Habibganj, Agra Central, Chandigarh, Kolkata, New Jalpaiguri, Puri and Kochi.

The Railways are to develop multi-functional complexes with shopping malls, food stalls, medicines and variety stores in different parts of the country.

The Infotainment services to be provided in major long-distance trains, Ms. Banerjee said.

Ms. Banerjee said that SMS updates on wait-listed tickets are to be introduced.

The Auto-vending machines will be installed in large and medium stations, she said.

The high-capacity air-conditioned double-decker trains to be introduced on select inter-city routes, Ms. Banerjee said.

She also stated that unreserved ticketing terminals to be expanded from 5000 to 8000. Automatic ticket vending machines to be increased.

Ms. Banerjee, in her speech, said arrangement with Department of Posts for issuance of tickets.

An Integrated Security System is being developed for 130 vulnerable stations to provide security to passengers, she said.

She stated in her speech that seven nursing colleges to be set up on railway land in places including Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. Railway medical colleges to be developed along with rail hospitals on public-private partnership.

Ms. Banerjee said that better representation to be given to minorities, women and the economically backward in railway recruitment. Special recruitment drive to be launched to fill vacancies in physically-handicapped category.

18,000 wagons to be acquired during the current year, she said.

The Railway Minister added that the Railways making efforts with Department of Heavy Industries for takeover of ailing wagon manufacturing units like Burn Standards.

Ms. Banerjee added that a new policy is to be launched for construction and operation of private freight terminals.

The Railways are to develop cold storages for farmers to store vegetables and fruits, she said. The Railway Minister added to say that superfast parcel express trains to be started on a pilot basis between Delhi and Chennai and Delhi and Mumbai.

The freight loading target for 2009-10 set at 882 million tonnes, an increase of 39 million tonnes, Ms. Banerjee said.

She said that photo-ID cards cum credit cards to be given to accredited journalists. Travel concession has been increased from 30 to 50 per cent for them.

During peak hours, ladies' specials to be introduced in suburban trains.

She also stated that twelve non-stop point-to-point trains between select cities are to be introduced. The sections include -- Howrah-Mumbai, Delhi-Lucknow, Delhi-Chennai, Delhi-Pune, Delhi-Allahabad, Howrah-Delhi, Sealdah-Delhi and Ernakulum-Delhi.