Shahdol: Police in Madhya Pradesh's Shahdol district have busted an organised counterfeit-currency racket with links across three districts, arresting five men and seizing 1,803 fake notes worth Rs 8.71 lakh, the district police said.

Source: Free Press Journal

1,803counterfeit notes seized
Rs 8.71 lakhtotal face value
5men arrested
3districts linked to the network

Superintendent of Police Sanjay Kumar Agarwal said that, acting on a tip-off about the circulation of counterfeit currency in the area, a Khairaha police team laid a trap near Chhirhati village and intercepted the suspects on November 6. Officers recovered 1,702 fake notes of Rs 500 and 101 fake notes of Rs 200, along with a printer allegedly used to produce the notes and a motorcycle, according to the police account of the operation.

Source: Kabir Darpan (Shahdol police statement)

Accused from Shahdol, Anuppur and Dindori

Police identified the arrested men as Sharad Singh Maravi of Anuppur district, Arvind Singh of Shahdol, and Manish Kumar, Anil Kumar Uraiti and Nanhe Singh Markam, all residents of Dindori district. The allegations against them are under investigation, and their culpability will be decided by the court. Preliminary investigation, police said, indicates the network was involved in the organised supply of fake currency across Shahdol, Anuppur and Dindori districts.

A case has been registered at Khairaha police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and police say a search is on for other suspects linked to the racket. Hindi reporting of the police statement said the group was allegedly preparing to push the fake notes into circulation during the festival season, when cash transactions rise sharply.

What happens next

The five arrested men face proceedings under the BNS case registered at Khairaha police station. Police say further arrests are possible as they trace the supply chain across the three districts.