Son of a retired Indian Navy officer, Sweekar luthra was caught in counterfeiting coin manufacturing racket under the patronage of his elder brother, Upkar luthra.
Police have recovered counterfeit coins worth Rs 17,390 in the denomination of Rs 5 and Rs 10 from his possession. luthra was the kingpin of the racket and he carried a reward of Rs. 50,000 over his head, said Sanjeev Yadav, the DCP of Special Cell.
Sleuths of the Special Cell of Delhi Police the 39-year-old, kingpin of a gang, was also wanted in a murder case of his partner in Bihar, police said on Tuesday.
“In October this year, police had busted a racket involved in the manufacturing and circulating of counterfeit coins and arrested two racketeers, Gulshan and Sachin from the area of Shiv Vihar, Nilothi Extension, Delhi. Police seized counterfeit coins manufacturing unit along with counterfeit coins worth ru
Rs 5,85,590 in the denomination of Rs 5 & Rs 10 from their possession. However, the kingpin managed to evade arrest,” Yadav said.
luthra was nabbed on December 26 after Special Cell sleuths located his whereabouts. His car was intercepted near Atul Chawk in Mohan Garden area of West Delhi.
During sustained interrogation, Sweekar disclosed what led him to the world of crime. “While Upkar established the counterfeit coin minting business over a period of 15 years in the national Capital to earn quick money, Sweekar took over after Upkar shifted base to Nepal to expand it,” the DCP added.
Sweekar gained a position after he came in partnership with one Satish.
On the issue related to payment, some disputes developed between Sweekar and Satish. In order to show his supremacy, the former called Satish to Bihar and at fired at him.
A case was registered against him in Madhubani, Bihar. In the same year, some of the associates/ delivery boys working for Sweekar were arrested by Special Cell of Delhi Police and his name emerged as the mastermind/kingpin of the racket,” said a senior official.
From 2011 onwards, Sweekar joined hands with one Ramesh. However, to establish supremacy, Sweekar got Ramesh bumped off with the help of contract killers in Bihar. Wanted by the Bihar Police, Sweekar came to Delhi and started his factory in the Shiv Vihar area of Nilothi Extension.
Police said that apart from cases in Bihar, Sweekar was declared a proclaimed offender by the KN Katju Police station.
Meanwhile, Special Cell has registered a case against him under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code.