Container with suspected fake currency held at Cochin port

Container with suspected fake currency held at Cochin port
Arun Lakshman
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July 06, 2009 19:19 IST
The Department of Revenue Intelligence, Customs and Central Excise have intercepted a container at Cochin, which had arrived from Dubai suspecting that it is carrying counterfeit currency notes.
Sources in the DRI told rediff.com that they had intercepted the container after receiving tip offs from reliable persons.
The owner of the consignment had told the Customs officials that the container had children's diapers and it was brought from China after conducting all clearances, informed sources. However, officials of the DRI and Central Excise told rediff.com that the container had arrived in the port three days ago and those responsible for the consignment had not yet arrived with the original papers.
Rediff.com had earlier reported that a special team has been constituted by the DRI and the organisation was on the verge of busting a major counterfeit currency racket, which has roots in Kasargod in , and its tentacles spread throughout the Middle East and Karachi in Pakistan.
There were even reports about the involvement of Pakistan's Inter Services Intelligence in the operation, as sources in the Economic Offences Wing told rediff.com that most of the confiscated notes closely resembled the original Indian currency.
When rediff.com asked experts if Pakistan could have provided the raw material to manufacture the counterfeit notes, they replied in the affirmative.
The outlawed Students Islamic Movement of India has its roots in Kochi and it may be recalled that the camp conducted by SIMI in August, 2007 was considered the brain storming session of the organisation, to carry out serial bomb blasts across the country.

Ministry of overseas Indian affairs to get 80 crore budget

Ministry of overseas Indian affairs to get 80 crore budget

Arun Lakshman
The ministry of overseas Indian affairs headed by Vayalar Ravi got a steep 23 per cent increase in allocation in the Budget as compared to last year.
The ministry has been given a total allocation of Rs 80 crore for the financial year 2009-10 against last year's allocation of Rs 65 crore.
As per figures made available on Monday, although the ministry was given an allocation of Rs 65 crore , it could spend only Rs 45 crore last year.
This ministry had made a representation to the finance ministry seeking an allocation of Rs 85 crore for the current year.
Sources in the Congress told Metro Vaartha that the performance of Vayalar Ravi was appreciated by the Congress party and the Prime Minister and hence the hike according to the minister’s wish.