A special National Investigation Agency, NIA court in Mumbai has sentenced six people accused in the 2009 fake currency case to life imprisonment. Special NIA judge Prithiviraj Chavan pronounced the sentence saying that the possession and circulation of Indian counterfeit notes was an act of terrorism. Our correspondent reports that special NIA judge Prithiviraj Chavan pronounced life imprisonment to all the six arrested accused Ravi Ghosh, Nooruddin Islam, Mohammed Samad, Mohammed Aijul Shaikh, Mohammed Asruddin Shaikh and Azraul Tamez Shaikh under relevant sections of IPC and Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. The court has also imposed a fine of 1000 rupees on each of the accused. According to the charge sheet, the six accused were part of a larger racket and were trying to destabilize the country's economy with an intention to abet terrorist activities. Speaking to reporters after the sentence was announced; Special Public Prosecutor Rohini Salian said that this was the first time that the fake currency has been covered under the ambit of a terrorist act. This case also happens to be the first case investigated by the NIA in Mumbai. NIA was set up post 26/11 attacks to probe and prosecute pan-India crimes, terror related cases and offences affecting the 'sovereignty, security and integrity of India'.