Two Convicted in Gujarat NIA Special Court for Junagadh Fake Currency Case
New Delhi, May 17, 2023: In a significant development, the NIA Special Court in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, handed down convictions to two individuals involved in a counterfeit currency conspiracy. The case pertained to the circulation of fake notes in Gujarat, which were sourced from West Bengal.
Sanjaykumar Mohanbhai Devaliya, a resident of Junagadh, has been sentenced to 10 years of rigorous imprisonment and fined Rs. 10,000 under Sections 489B and 489C of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). The second convict, known as Tahir or Kaliya, received a seven-year prison term and was fined Rs. 10,000 under Section 489C of the IPC.
Originally registered by the ATS Gujarat in 2018 based on specific inputs from the NIA, the investigation was later taken over by the NIA itself. With meticulous and scientific investigation techniques, the NIA successfully apprehended the accused.
NIA’s investigation revealed that Sanjaykumar Devaliya had traveled by air to Kolkata and then proceeded to New Farakka Junction by train. On October 17, 2018, he met Tahir and exchanged genuine Indian currency amounting to Rs. 20,000 for counterfeit notes. Sanjaykumar was later arrested in Gujarat while in possession of the fake currency.
Throughout the investigation, the NIA meticulously recorded witness statements, including those under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), obtained voice samples from the accused, scrutinized mobile phone records, and collected other documentary evidence. These efforts were aimed at unraveling the conspiracy and gathering robust evidence for prosecution. A chargesheet was filed against the accused, and after three years of relentless pursuit, the trial concluded with the conviction of both individuals.
