Kollam: A missing-person complaint filed by a woman in Kollam on October 16 set off an investigation that eventually led police to a suspected counterfeit currency printing unit at her husband's house, where materials linked to fake notes with a face value of around ₹2.5 crore were seized.

The police took Sibion, a native of Kallelivayal in Vadi, Kollam, into custody following a joint search by Kollam City Police and the District Anti-Narcotic Special Action Force (DANSAF) team. The raid was conducted on Friday night, officials said on Saturday.

The investigation initially focused on the disappearance of Sibion after his wife, Tincy, approached the Pallithottam police station with a complaint.
Also read | Dramatic turn: Kerala BJP leader surrenders in ₹8 Cr heist at Muslim League-linked centre in Qatar

How the missing-person complaint led to a kidnapping probe

During the initial investigation, police learnt that Sibion had been abducted from Asramam in Kollam and that his gold ornaments had been taken away.

Investigators found that a person named Adarsh had allegedly called Sibion to a location. Police registered a kidnapping case, following which Sibion returned on his own and reported the incident, officials said.

Further questioning and scrutiny of Sibion's financial dealings led investigators to suspect hawala transactions and other unauthorised activities. These findings shifted the investigation towards his financial dealings and prompted the raid on his house.
Also read | 2 days after surprise return from Australia, woman and childhood friend die in Kerala road mishap

What police found during the raid

During the search, officers seized a digital printer, bundles of paper cut to the size required for printing ₹500 notes, a currency-counting machine and other materials suspected to have been used in the alleged counterfeit currency operation.

Police said the seized materials were suspected to be linked to the production of fake notes with a face value of around ₹2.5 crore. Officers also recovered 43 sovereigns of gold ornaments from the premises.

Preliminary questioning indicated that Ravi, a native of Attingal, had supplied Sibion with materials allegedly used to prepare counterfeit notes in exchange for ₹30 lakh, an officer said.

Police suspect that more people may have been involved in the operation and are trying to trace Ravi.

A detailed investigation is underway to establish the extent of the suspected operation and identify others who may be connected to it, officials said.

(With PTI inputs)