Four accused arrested after allegedly buying Bakrid goats in Surat using counterfeit Rs 500 currency notes
Surat: A shocking fraud case has surfaced from Surat where four men allegedly purchased goats from a Bakrid market using counterfeit currency notes, leaving a Rajasthan-based businessman stunned after discovering that most of the money handed to him was fake.
The incident took place at a Bakra Mandi operating near the Palsana T-Point area in Surat, where traders from different states had arrived to sell goats ahead of the Bakrid festival. Police have now arrested all four accused and recovered a large quantity of counterfeit currency notes during the investigation.
The victim, identified as Bhanwarlal Jaichand Bhagaria, had travelled from Rajasthan to Surat with goats for sale during the festive season.
Surat Goat Market Fraud Shocks Bakrid Traders
According to police officials, the accused allegedly approached the businessman at the goat market and negotiated the purchase of two goats. The traders reportedly paid Rs 25,000 for each goat, handing over bundles of what appeared to be genuine Rs 500 notes.
The businessman initially accepted the payment without suspicion. However, the fraud came to light the following day when he began counting the money and noticed that multiple currency notes carried the exact same serial number.
The victim immediately approached Sachin Police Station and lodged a formal complaint regarding the fraud.
“Only three Rs 500 notes were genuine while the remaining notes were counterfeit,” the complainant reportedly informed police officials.
Four Accused Arrested in Fake Currency Goat Scam
Following the complaint, Surat police launched a search operation and arrested four accused identified as Ulfat Sheikh, Nazir Ansari, Sattar Sheikh, and Raees Siddiqui.
Investigators stated that the accused were residents of the Limbayat area in Surat and allegedly targeted traders participating in the busy Bakrid livestock market.
Police officials said the main accused, Mohammad Ulfat, allegedly masterminded the operation with assistance from his accomplices.
Counterfeit Currency Recovered During Police Raid
During the investigation, police conducted raids at a warehouse allegedly linked to the accused and recovered counterfeit currency notes from the premises.
Officials stated that several fake notes were partially burned in an apparent attempt to destroy evidence. Authorities reportedly recovered around 322 counterfeit notes from the possession of the accused during the operation.
Police are now investigating the source of the fake currency and whether the accused were linked to a larger counterfeit currency racket operating in Gujarat or neighbouring states.
Bakrid Market Traders Raise Security Concerns
The incident has created panic among traders participating in Bakrid livestock markets, with several businessmen demanding tighter surveillance and stronger verification measures to prevent similar fraud cases.
Police officials have urged traders and shopkeepers to carefully verify high-value cash transactions during the festive season, particularly in crowded livestock and wholesale markets.
