Taking cognisance of this paper’s expose, MRA Marg police promise swift arrest of ‘note-change’ touts, look to uncover source
The same spot where the agents were seen sitting on Monday was found empty on Tuesday afternoon
The MRA Marg police have sprung into action and are looking for ‘Kadak’ gang members after mid-day reported on the racket operating right behind the RBI office in Fort. The agents, who exchange old currency notes for new crispy ones for 5 to 30 per cent commission, have gone missing from the spot after mid-day’s report was published on Tuesday. Cops have also inquired with the RBI and are trying to uncover the source of these new crispy notes.
Senior Inspector Rajesh Pawar of the MRA Marg police station said, “We have started an investigation into this matter after mid-day exposed the ‘Kadak’ gang. We sent a team to the spot on Tuesday afternoon, but could not find them. The detection team is looking for these agents.”
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Also read: Meet Mumbai’s ‘kadak’ gang
“They must have escaped from this spot after mid-day published the article. We have started a hunt for them and will give results in two days. We are also taking help from the RBI office. People struggle to get even one bundle of new notes from the bank, but as per the mid-day report these women were dealing in lakhs and crores. We will find the source,” said Investigation Officer API Pravin Shinde.
DCP (Zone 1) Hari Balaji N told mid-day, “We informed MRA Marg police to investigate the matter. We are also checking if any cases were registered against these agents for selling currency notes earlier. We are checking all the facts and will take action accordingly. We are also checking if it is a crime to sell crisp currency notes.”
Ground report
The mid-day team again visited the spot on Tuesday afternoon but could not locate any of the agents. When the correspondent asked locals about them, it was revealed that they escaped from the spot earlier in the day. A source said, “They are doing their business over the phone now.”
Kadak gang member Hemlata Chaurasiya in conversation with the correspondent. File pic/Ashish Raje
Sources also told mid-day, “These agents earlier used to take these crisp bundles in exchange for old notes from the RBI office itself. But the RBI stopped giving notes like that a few years ago. Now, Kadak gang members take help from big traders in the market who supply these notes to them.”
‘Not a crime’
One of the agents, Hemlata Chaurasiya even called the correspondent on Tuesday, saying they were not indulging in any crime. Chaurasiya said, “We are not doing any crime. We are helping people by giving them crisp currencies. mid-day exposed our work but we will continue to do it. We have small children and families to support. We can’t stop our business. We, too, purchase these notes from our sources and give them commission.”
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