Bengaluru ragpicker discovers $3 million in US dollars; 'black dollar scam' suspected by police
Bengaluru, November 10: In Bengaluru, a ragpicker's staggering discovery of bundles of US dollars worth $3 million, roughly equivalent to Rs 25 crore, led to unforeseen chaos and criminal activity. The ragpicker, Salman Sheikh, stumbled upon this treasure in a garbage pile in Hebbal on November 1, leading him to faint from the shock and excitement of his unexpected find.
Overwhelmed by the discovery of an immense sum of money, Salman hesitated for four days, contemplating what to do with it. Eventually, on November 5, he confided in his contractor, Bappa, about the found cash, unsure of how to proceed. Bappa, in turn, sought the guidance of social activist Kalimullah, who promptly involved the police upon learning about the peculiar discovery.
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Unbeknownst to them, the news of Salman's discovery and Bappa's involvement reached a criminal gang. Seeking to claim the money for themselves, the gang abducted Bappa, blindfolded him, and subjected him to a harrowing ordeal, interrogating him about the money's whereabouts. Despite Bappa's insistence that he had involved the police and handed over the money, the gang held him captive for four hours until they finally believed him and released him. Fearing for his family's safety, Bappa refrained from filing a police complaint, as the gang had threatened dire consequences.
Further investigation revealed that the dollars and a letter, accompanied by a 'United Nations seal', were counterfeit. The Bengaluru police commissioner, B Dayanand, confirmed the falsity of the discovered currency and initiated an ongoing investigation.
The police are now delving into the origins of the counterfeit notes, aiming to trace their source and purpose. The peculiar chemical found on the notes raised suspicions that they might be part of a black dollar scam, a fraudulent scheme where individuals are duped into believing they've found authentic banknotes that were originally painted black to evade authorities. Fraudsters then claim they possess a chemical capable of restoring the notes' original form, displaying the process by exchanging a fake note with a real one, ultimately deceiving their targets.
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- With inputs from agencies
