A murder investigation in Ahmedabad has led to the exposure of a major fake currency racket, with police seizing counterfeit notes having a face value of Rs 28.9 lakh and apprehending five individuals, officials reported on Saturday.
Minor Also Apprehended
The police have also taken a minor into custody for his alleged involvement in the crime. He has been sent to a remand home, authorities confirmed.
Kingpin Dead
Zone 8 Deputy Commissioner of Police Mayur Patil stated, “The seventh accused, the kingpin of the network, is dead.” Five adults have been arrested, he added.
How the Racket Came to Light
According to police, the fake currency network was uncovered during the investigation into a murder in the city. The body of the kingpin, Imran Sindha, was discovered in a flat in the Vatva area on May 27. Patil explained that Sindha was allegedly killed by his associates, who were involved in producing counterfeit notes alongside him.
Sindha reportedly subjected his associates to repeated abuse over trivial matters. Frustrated by his behavior, the accused allegedly assaulted him, tied him up inside the flat, and fled with fake currency notes and machines. Unbeknownst to them, Sindha succumbed to the assault. The murder came to light after neighbors complained of a foul odor emanating from the flat, the official said.
Evidence and Seizures
During the inspection of the flat, police found clues indicating it was being used to print counterfeit currency notes. Investigators later discovered that Sindha and five others, including a minor, had been directly involved in the note printing activity since March 16, 2026. Police also learned that Sindha had allegedly printed counterfeit notes with a face value of nearly Rs 60 lakh.
Subsequently, the gang members were arrested from different states, and authorities recovered fake notes with a face value of Rs 28.94 lakh, along with a laptop and printers, the official said. Based on technical surveillance and intelligence inputs, police arrested Meraj Rabari, a resident of Banaskantha and the sixth accused, who was involved in distributing the fake notes, Patil added.
Legal Action and Further Investigation
A case has been registered against seven persons, including the minor and the deceased Sindha. Further investigation is underway, and police are working to ascertain how the remaining counterfeit notes were circulated, the official added.
