Police in Nagpur have uncovered a suspected counterfeit-currency operation in a rented room in the city's Kharbi area, seizing fake Rs 500 notes with a face value of about Rs 37 lakh — yaani Rs 0.37 crore — along with a printer and printing material, DY365 reported. The total value of the seized notes and materials was estimated at around Rs 48 lakh, yaani Rs 0.48 crore.

Source: DY365

The case came to light on Saturday when the landlord, identified as Ramesh, broke the room's lock after the tenant had remained absent for several days. Inside, he found bundles of notes kept in a bucket, a printer and papers scattered around the room, and he immediately informed the police, according to the reports. Officers from Wathoda police station reached the spot and seized the notes, the printer and other material, including partly printed sheets printed on only one side. Police used a counting machine to check the recovered currency.

Source: Inshorts (NDTV)

Police have identified the accused as Pushpak Krishna Bhandarkar, also known as Bendane, a resident of Trimurti Nagar in Nagpur. According to police, he had rented the room about one-and-a-half years ago, his rental agreement ended in January, and he allegedly stopped paying rent for several months. When the landlord asked him to vacate, he allegedly threatened him with a knife, following which the landlord filed a complaint at Wathoda police station. These are allegations under investigation and have not been established in court.

Bhandarkar is currently absconding. During the investigation, police learnt that he was in Mumbai, and a police team is expected to go there to trace and arrest him. Investigators are also examining how the notes were produced, whether any of them entered circulation, and whether anyone else was involved in the alleged operation.