Indore (Madhya Pradesh): A youth was arrested here on Sunday evening while trying to pass off counterfeit notes of Rs 500 denomination at a betel shop in Lasudia area. The police suspected that the accused might have been inspired by the crime-thriller web series ‘Farzi’ as his modus operandi was similar to the one shown in it.

The accused had earlier too spent counterfeit notes but this time the currency’s low paper quality led to his arrest. ACP Aditya Patle said that the accused Shubham Razak of Jabalpur was caught passing off counterfeit notes of Rs 500 denomination at a betel shop. While frisking, police seized 46 fake notes of Rs 500 denomination from his possession.

The accused is a BCom graduate and works as a tele caller in a private company. During interrogation, he allegedly informed police that he got the counterfeit notes from one Mahipal alias Mohit Beda of Jodhpur at half the price of the actual notes.

Preliminary investigations revealed that he attempted to circulate counterfeit notes at small shops. The accused said that he met Mahipal through one of his colleagues and was circulating the fake notes for the past one month.

The police are checking his call detail record (CDR) and bank details to verify his statement. A background check of the accused is on to find his connection with any group or his involvement in similar offences.

The police have registered a case against the accused under sections 179 and 180 of the BNS. Section 179 stipulates using, forged or counterfeit coin, government stamp, currency-notes or bank notes as genuine while Section 180 pertains to possession of forged or counterfeit coin, government stamp, currency-notes or bank notes.