Pune's Vishrambaug police have arrested four men in an alleged counterfeit currency racket, according to a police press release issued on October 25. The operation began after police constables Sachin Abichake and Shailesh Surve received information that a person carrying counterfeit currency would arrive near Mahatma Phule Mandai market.
Source: Police press release via Urban Acres
The information was passed to Police Sub-Inspector Satvayan Gaud and Senior Police Inspector Navnath Jagatap, and a team laid a trap near Mhalsa Temple, behind Mahatma Phule Mandai in Shukrawar Peth, on October 18 at about 4:45 pm. Police apprehended Salman Javedin Raje, 30, a resident of Ambegaon, and said 808 counterfeit Rs 500 notes, with a face value of Rs 4.04 lakh, were seized from him.
Source: Police press release via Urban Acres
Three alleged accomplices held, printing equipment seized
During the investigation that followed, officers identified three alleged accomplices, who were later apprehended: Shakaj Firoz Ansari, 30, from Nalasopara; Vishal Vilas Galande, 39, from Surpurwadi in Satara district; and Abhijit Ravsaheb Kamble, 30, from Shiroli in Kolhapur district, the press release stated. All four are accused in the case; the allegations are yet to be proven in court.
Source: Police press release via Urban Acres
Police also seized computer equipment allegedly used in the counterfeiting operation, including an Epson printer, an HP monitor, a Lenovo keyboard and mouse, and computer CPUs, valued at approximately Rs 21,900. A Hindustan Times report summarised by Inshorts said the accused allegedly rented a house in Shirol, Kolhapur, to print the notes, and that one suspect had been booked earlier in a similar case.
Source: Inshorts / Hindustan Times
The case has been registered at Vishrambaug Police Station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Senior Police Inspector Navnath Jagatap said the operation followed specific information about the movement of counterfeit currency, and Vishrambaug police personnel are continuing the investigation into the alleged network.