Kollam, October 24 — What began as a missing-person complaint in Kerala's Kollam district has led police to an alleged counterfeit-currency printing unit, with equipment and material seized that investigators estimate could have produced fake notes with a face value of about Rs 2.5 crore (yaani Rs 2.5 crore — 250 lakh rupees).

Source: Whalesbook

The case began on October 16, when a local resident, Tincy, filed a complaint about her husband, Sibion, reports said. As police probed his disappearance, they found discrepancies in his financial dealings that, according to investigators, suggested possible involvement in hawala transactions and a clandestine printing operation — an allegation that remains under investigation.

Source: Inshorts

A joint task force that included the District Anti-Narcotic Special Action Force then raided a residential property in Kallelivayal linked to the suspect. Inside, officers recovered high-end digital printing equipment, a high-speed currency-counting machine and stacks of paper cut precisely to the dimensions of Rs 500 notes, reports said.

Based on the raw material seized, authorities estimate the potential face value of counterfeit currency that could have been produced at approximately Rs 2.5 crore. The raid also yielded 43 sovereigns of gold ornaments (yaani 43 sovereigns — about 344 grams of gold in total).

Initial questioning of Sibion has, according to the investigation reports, implicated a second man identified as Ravi, from Attingal, who allegedly supplied the specialised equipment and components. Police are tracing Ravi. Reports from the investigation also indicate that the suspect had allegedly invested roughly Rs 30 lakh (yaani Rs 30 lakh — thirty lakh rupees) to acquire the materials for the alleged operation.

Police say the probe is now examining possible connections to broader organised-crime and hawala networks. No court finding has been made in the case, and the allegations against the named men are yet to be proved.