THE POLICE STATION-CRIME, CHANDIGARH POLICE, HAS SUCCESSFULLY BUSTED AN INTER-STATE SYNDICATE INVOLVED IN THE PRINTING AND DISTRIBUTION OF FAKE INDIAN CURRENCY NOTES (FICN). A TOTAL OF 7,157 FICN NOTES IN DENOMINATIONS OF RS.500 AND RS.100, WITH A TOTAL WORTH OF RS. 24,27,700/-, WERE SEIZED.ALONG WITH THE SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FAKE CURRENCY, TWO VEHICLES, PRINTERS, INK, A CUTTER, AND SECURITY THREAD EMBEDDED PAPERS WERE ALSO RECOVERED.A TOTAL OF THREE ACCUSED PERSONS WERE ARRESTED BY THE POLICE STATION CRIME, U.T CHANDIGARH.THE SYNDICATE'S AREA OF OPERATION COVERED CHANDIGARH, HIMACHAL PRADESH, PUNJAB, RAJASTHAN, AND JAMMU & KASHMIR. 

Face2News/Chandigarh

In a major breakthrough, the Crime Branch team, under the supervision of Sh. Jasbir Singh, SP Crime and under close guidance of Sh. Dhiraj Kumar, DSP Crime, and led by Inspector Satvinder, SHO PS-Crime, successfully arrested the three accused: Gaurav Kumar @ Ranjit, Vikram Meena @ Vicky, and Jitendra Sharma. A huge quantity of fake Indian currency notes worth Rs.24,27,700/-, along with printers, bond paper sheets embedded with the "RBI Bharat" security thread, and other items used for printing and distributing counterfeit Indian currencies, have been recovered.

On 25.09.2025, while working on inputs from Central Agency and on receipt of secret information about two persons namlely Gaurav Kumar and Vikram Meena regarding circulating fake Rs.500 denomination Indian currency notes in Chandigarh, a team of Crime branch of Chandigarh Police acted swiftly, a trap was laid near Shishu Niketan School, Sector-22, Chandigarh. On identification by the informer, both accused, Gaurav Kumar and Vikram Meena @ Vicky, were apprehended by the police party.

Upon searching Gaurav Kumar, a black-colored bag containing 19 fake Rs.500 denomination notes was recovered. A further search of his silver-colored Tata Harrier registration No.HP76-5055 yielded 1,626 fake Rs.500 denomination notes. In total, 1,646 counterfeit Rs.500 notes, worth a total of Rs.8,23,000/-, were seized from accused Gaurav Kumar. Furthermore, 392 fake Rs.500 denomination notes, worth a total of Rs.1,96,000/-, were recovered from the Alto Car having registration No. PB13Y-7371 of accused Vikram Meena.

A case FIR No.21/2025 U/S 178, 179, 180 Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, PS-Crime Sector-11, U.T, Chandigarh was registered. Based on their disclosure statements, further raids were conducted:

● At Sangrur (Punjab): A recovery of 10 counterfeit notes Rs.2,500/- in Rs.500/- notes and Rs.500/- in Rs.100 notes was made from accused Vikram Meena at Shop No.14, Dana Mandi Gaushala Road, DTDC/AJ Enterprise, Sangrur, Punjab. This consignment had been received by him through a courier from Jhalawad, Rajasthan.

● At Village Katipari, PS-Padhar, District Mandi (HP): A recovery of 4 packets containing 400 fake Rs.500 denomination notes, worth a total of Rs.2,00,000/-, was made at the instance of accused Gaurav Kumar.

During the investigation, it was revealed that the accused persons frequently used courier services to send and receive the fake currency notes. One of the consignments delivered to accused Vikram Meena has been taken into police possession.

Acting upon further leads, on 01.10.2025, a raid was conducted in Rajasthan, and one more accused, Jitendra Sharma s/o Hariom Sharma age 42 years, was apprehended from his rented accommodation at Jhalrapatan, District-Jhalawar, Rajasthan. From his residence, counterfeit Indian currency worth Rs.12,20,700/- was recovered, along with printers, bond paper sheets having the "RBI Bharat" security thread embedded, and other items used for printing the counterfeit currencies. 

MODUS OPERANDI: The accused persons came into contact through their networks, which continued to grow via mutual references. Initially, they met physically to take deliveries of FICN and disposed-of the acquired currency by supplying it to known customers.

Accused came into contact through their networks, which continued to grow via mutual references. Initially, they met physically to take deliveries of FICN and disposed-of the acquired currency by supplying it to known customers.Subsequently, they started using social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Telegram to lure gullible or potential buyers by showing them videos/pictures and the associated profit. After making contact and developing some rapport and trust, small samples of FICN were first delivered, followed by larger parcels.The Fake Indian Currency Notes were typically exchanged at a ratio of 1:3; that is, Rs. 03 Lakhs of FICN were exchanged for Rs.01 lakh of original currency. However, this ratio was not fixed and varied based on mutual understanding and bargaining.

The Fake Indian Currency Notes were typically exchanged at a ratio of 1:3; that is, Rs. 03 Lakhs of FICN were exchanged for Rs.01 lakh of original currency. However, this ratio was not fixed and varied based on mutual understanding and bargaining.

FICN was usually transported through courier companies, but in many cases, it was also delivered manually. Customers or buyers acquiring these notes were either reselling them at a lower ratio to earn a profit or mixing them with bundles of original notes to avoid detection, thereby circulating the FICN into the public.

KNOW THE ACCUSED: Gaurav Kumar s/o Raj Kumar Resident of VPO Katipari, District Mandi, Himachal Pradesh, Age: 34 years, studied upto 12th class and working in share market. He left his studies after the 12th class to pursue his sports ambitions but was unsuccessful. Thereafter, he started investing in the share market, suffering huge losses in futures, options trading, and the commodity market. Through his network, he came into contact with Pramod Katre of Gondia, Maharashtra, and Vikram Meena of Sangrur, Punjab, who were involved in the sale of FICNs. After receiving a sample of FICN, he began buying the notes and further supplying them to either known buyers or customers lured through social media.

Vikram Meena @ Vicky  Resident of  247 Patiala Gate, Sangrur, Punjab, Age: 35 years, 12th passed and working in share market. He invested in the share market and suffered losses. To make quick money, he searched for a supply of fake currency notes through his contacts. There, he connected with Pramod Katre of Gondia, Maharashtra, Gaurav @ Ranjit of Mandi, HP, and Jitender Sharma of Kota, and he began buying and further supplying FICNs to other buyers. He procured FICN in exchange for original money, and after collecting the notes, he further supplied and distributed them to other customers.

Jitendra Sharma s/o Hariom Sharma Resident of: House No.C-129A, Chandrawati Grouth Centre residential Jhalrapatan, Jhalawar, Rajasthan, Permanent address: H.No.C-1/9 Mahananda Nagar, Dewas Road Ujjain, Om Garden, Madhya Pradesh., Age: 42 years and studied upto 12th class. 

After studies, Jitendra Sharma first ran a mobile shop in Ujjain, and subsequently established a disposable paper cup facility there, but suffered losses. Thereafter, he moved to Jhalawad, where his parents and brother ran a Kirana shop. He started a taxi service with his Swift car but was under pressure to pay the EMIs on a huge loan he had taken from banks. Searching for methods to make quick money, he came into contact with Pramod Katre of Gondia and Vikram Meena of Sangrur, Punjab. After receiving a supply of FICNs from Pramod Katre and other suppliers from Delhi, he further supplied them to Vikram Meena and other buyers. Later, he decided to start his own printing operation and assembled the necessary equipment, security thread embedded paper, cutter, inks, etc.
Other Arrests linked to this case

Accused persons arrested by other State Police include:

● One accused, Pramod Katre from Gondia, Maharashtra, who was arrested in case FIR No.240/2025 U/s 178 & 179 BNS PS-Lal Barra, Balagath, MP.  One accused person named Mohammad Shafie Ganaie, arrested in FICN case FIR No.152/2025 dated 27.09.2025 U/s 180 PS-Magam, Jammu and Kashmir and two Children in Conflict with Law (CCL) also apprehended in this case.

The investigation of the present case involves multiple channels and nodes through which the syndicate is operating. PS-Crime Chandigarh is investigating the case to bring it to its logical conclusion. Accused persons arrested in other states will be brought on remand, and further investigation will be carried out to bust other linkages.