BIKANER: Three Iranian nationals living in India on expired visas were arrested by a special team of police in Bikaner on Saturday evening for taking away currency notes of Rs 30,000 from a dhaba owner two days ago.
Police recovered cash of Rs 11 lakh, 7,770 US dollars, 700 Euros, 100 Canadian dollars and some currencies of Iran, UAE, Oman and Korea from the three men. Several number plates, fake identity cards and narcotics were also recovered from the vehicle they were travelling in, said police.
The three men were identified as Hoshyar Mohammad, 25, Salman alias Shahram Zekri, 47, and Ahmad Zaiei Bahleh, 34. They have been living in India since 2022 on an expired visa, said police.
Bikaner SP Yogesh Yadav said police started a probe after a complaint was received at Napasar police station on February 3 by one Hansraj Jat, the owner of a roadside dhaba at Naurangdesar near Bikaner. Jat said he was cheated of Rs 30,000 by some people on the pretext of purchasing a toothbrush costing Rs 20 from his shop.
“The complainant said the three men tried to pay him with a demonetised note of Rs 500 after purchasing some goods on February 3. When the complainant showed them a bundle of the Rs 500 notes being used currently, they pulled out around Rs 30,000 from it in a sort of sleight of hand. We registered an FIR and began a probe by analysing CCTV footage. The three Iranians were arrested in Nal police station area while they were travelling towards Jodhpur in a car hired from Delhi,” said Yadav.
A fresh FIR was registered against the trio at Nayashahar police station under sections of IPC, NDPS and the Foreigners Act. Police suspect the trio had conned several people in various places using the same modus operandi.
“The three men are being interrogated. They are unable to communicate in English or any Indian language. We have informed the central agencies and the Iranian embassy,” said Yadav.
Police recovered cash of Rs 11 lakh, 7,770 US dollars, 700 Euros, 100 Canadian dollars and some currencies of Iran, UAE, Oman and Korea from the three men. Several number plates, fake identity cards and narcotics were also recovered from the vehicle they were travelling in, said police.
The three men were identified as Hoshyar Mohammad, 25, Salman alias Shahram Zekri, 47, and Ahmad Zaiei Bahleh, 34. They have been living in India since 2022 on an expired visa, said police.
Bikaner SP Yogesh Yadav said police started a probe after a complaint was received at Napasar police station on February 3 by one Hansraj Jat, the owner of a roadside dhaba at Naurangdesar near Bikaner. Jat said he was cheated of Rs 30,000 by some people on the pretext of purchasing a toothbrush costing Rs 20 from his shop.
“The complainant said the three men tried to pay him with a demonetised note of Rs 500 after purchasing some goods on February 3. When the complainant showed them a bundle of the Rs 500 notes being used currently, they pulled out around Rs 30,000 from it in a sort of sleight of hand. We registered an FIR and began a probe by analysing CCTV footage. The three Iranians were arrested in Nal police station area while they were travelling towards Jodhpur in a car hired from Delhi,” said Yadav.
A fresh FIR was registered against the trio at Nayashahar police station under sections of IPC, NDPS and the Foreigners Act. Police suspect the trio had conned several people in various places using the same modus operandi.
“The three men are being interrogated. They are unable to communicate in English or any Indian language. We have informed the central agencies and the Iranian embassy,” said Yadav.
