In a significant crackdown, the Chandigarh Police on Friday announced the busting of a sophisticated interstate counterfeit currency racket that was operational across five states in northern India. The police have arrested five individuals, including a final-year BBA student, and seized fake Indian currency notes (FICN) with a face value exceeding ₹7 lakh.
Network Spanned Five States, Used Social Media
According to police officials, the illicit network had a wide operational footprint, with activities spanning Delhi, Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Jammu & Kashmir. The masterminds leveraged modern technology and social media platforms to run their illegal trade. Investigators revealed that the accused primarily used Instagram and Telegram to connect with potential buyers. They would lure clients by sharing videos and images of the printed counterfeit notes on these platforms, which served as a digital marketplace for transactions.
Modus Operandi and Arrests
The breakthrough came on December 19, when police received a tip-off about Avinash Kumar, a suspect wanted by Rajasthan Police, staying at a paying guest accommodation in Kajheri village, Sector 52, Chandigarh. A swift raid led to his apprehension. From his bag, police recovered sheets and notes of counterfeit ₹500, ₹200, and ₹50 denominations. His associate, Satyam Vishwakarma, was also arrested from the same PG. A search of their room yielded fake currency worth ₹1,01,000 along with stamping foils and printing materials.
The investigation intensified the next day, December 20. Based on disclosures made by Satyam, police searched a nearby white Maruti Brezza car and seized a larger haul of counterfeit notes valued at ₹4,76,300. This led to the subsequent arrests of three more accused: Sandeep from Haryana, and Abdulla and Shahzad from Uttar Pradesh.
Profile of the Accused and Seizures
The arrested individuals, all aged between 20 and 27, come from diverse educational backgrounds, highlighting how such crimes can attract youth from various walks of life. Abdulla, involved in handicraft work, is a final-year BBA student. Sandeep holds a BCom degree. Satyam and Avinash are Class XII passouts, while Shahzad, who studied till Class VIII, earns a living by selling clothes from his motorcycle.
In addition to the fake currency, the police made substantial seizures of equipment used in the forgery. These included printers, laptops, tablets, printing ink, and sheets of paper. A vehicle used in the operations was also impounded.
The gang's business model was intricate. Fake notes were typically sold at a ratio of 1:4, meaning counterfeit notes with a face value of ₹4 lakh were exchanged for ₹1 lakh in genuine currency. Police noted that this ratio was flexible and often settled through bargaining. The distribution was carried out either via courier companies or through in-person deliveries. To inject the fake notes into the economy, buyers would either resell them at a lower ratio for profit or cunningly mix them with bundles of genuine currency to avoid detection during transactions.
The Chandigarh Police's operation has successfully dismantled a key channel pushing counterfeit currency into public circulation across North India. Further investigations are ongoing to uncover the entire supply chain and identify more individuals involved in the racket.
