Kochi | Police have launched a probe after 106 counterfeit Rs 500 notes were found in an abandoned bag in Thoppumpady, officials said on Friday.

According to police, a person found the bag abandoned near the compound wall of Geo Bar in Thoppumpady at around 7.30 pm on Thursday.

The person checked the bag and found 106 Rs 500 notes inside. The bag was subsequently handed over to another person, who found the notes to be counterfeit.

Police were informed and reached the spot, taking the bag and the notes into custody.

Police later registered a case under Sections 179 (using, trafficking, importing, exporting, selling or buying forged or counterfeit currency) and 180 (possessing fake or counterfeit currency) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Police are examining CCTV footage from the area to identify the person who abandoned the bag.

The counterfeit notes appeared to be of poor quality, police said, adding that they would investigate whether any of them had been used in financial transactions