Lucknow/Deoria, April 2 Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav on Thursday alleged that counterfeit currency was rampant in Uttar Pradesh under the Yogi Adityanath government, and indicated the involvement of a BJP MLA.
His allegation came a day after a counterfeit currency racket was busted in Deoria.
In the wake of the revelation, the SP on Wednesday shared pictures of local BJP MLA Shalabh Mani Tripathi with the people linked with the racket, alleging a connection.
"In Deoria and nearby areas, such illegal activities are taking place. It is being heard that in the BJP government, fake currency is being circulated within the country while real money is being sent outside," Akhilesh said on Thursday.
"If photographs are considered proof, then whose pictures are now coming out? Wherever wrongdoing is happening in Uttar Pradesh, BJP people are involved," he added.
Earlier, police said fake currency valued at Rs 1.18 lakh was seized in Prayagraj, and Vivek Yadav of Deoria was identified as the alleged kingpin of a counterfeit network spread across eastern Uttar Pradesh and adjoining Bihar districts.
Yadav is currently absconding, while four suspects are being questioned.
Meanwhile, Tripathi hit back at the allegations, saying he meets a lot of people as a public figure.
"How are we supposed to know which SP worker, inspired by their leaders, has set up a 'loot ATM' here in Deoria? There are more pictures of this accused which clearly reveal the reality of the Samajwadi Party.
"As far as the investigation is concerned, rest assured, this is the government of Yogi ji. The entire fake currency racket will be exposed very soon," the MLA posted on X.
"You should keep this issue alive till then, and also listen to the accused's latest statement available on social media," he added.