The Delhi Police arrested eight men on Friday for cheating innocent people by showing the victims a bundle of fake currency notes. Police said the gang usually operated at railway stations and metro stations.

DCP (Metro) Pankaj Kumar Singh said with the arrest of Rahul Kumar, Zakir, Mohd Abid, Mujammil Sheikh, Shiboo, Mahsood, Chottu Singh and Tanveer, all in their early 20s, police have recovered 15 mobile phones and Rs 39,000 cash from their possession.

Explaining the modus operandi of the gang, Singh said, “The gang members lived in rented accommodations and to avoid getting caught, changed accommodations frequently. They had lied to their land owner by saying that they sell pullover bags at the Railway stations. The gang operated in two teams. While one team stole the mobile phones at the Delhi metro stations, the other team cheated innocent people at railway stations.

By showing the victims a bundle of fake currency notes which had original notes on top and fake notes below, the accused used to gain confidence of the victim.

While one of the gang members became friendly with the victims, another gang member would walk in and show the currency notes, asking them for railway tickets.

The accused member further lied claiming that he had no money to buy tickets and the bundle of currency which he had stolen does not work. Along these lines, the gang used to lure the victim, take their money and hand them the fake currency bundle.”

The senior police officer said that while investigating a case of theft, police were scanning through the CCTV footages and on September 21, they came across some people with suspicious behavior. On enquiry, the police team found that a group of budding criminals, active in the Bawana area, is operating in Delhi Metro and railway stations.

The gang was suspected of committing theft and tricking people into giving in their cash. Based on a tip-off, Metro Police laid a trap outside the Akshardham Metro Station and nabbed eight people, including three juveniles.