Ahmedabad, June 6 (IANS) The Ahmedabad Police have uncovered an alleged interstate counterfeit currency racket during the investigation of a murder case in Vatva area, leading to the recovery of fake Indian currency notes with a face value of Rs 28.94 lakh and the arrest of six accused, officials said on Saturday.

The operation stemmed from the investigation of a murder registered at Vatva Police Station under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

During the probe, investigators recovered equipment and materials used for manufacturing counterfeit Indian currency from a flat linked to the deceased accused, Imran Sabbir Sindha.

According to officials, subsequent inquiries revealed that Sindha and his associates had allegedly been operating a counterfeit currency manufacturing unit from a rented house at Satej Homes in Vatva, since March 16.

Police said the group had allegedly stored specialised equipment for producing fake currency, printed counterfeit notes and distributed them through various individuals for circulation in the market.

Police said the accused had “jointly hatched a criminal conspiracy” and were involved in manufacturing and circulating counterfeit Indian currency notes.

During the investigation, counterfeit Rs 500 notes were recovered from the possession of accused Virendrasinh alias Viru Baghel and Chandramohan Sharma.

Based on the findings, Vatva Police registered a separate offence under Sections 61(2)(a), 178, 179, 180 and 181 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Police said that acting on directions from the senior officials, multiple teams of the Local Crime Branch (LCB) Zone-8 and Vatva Police Station were formed to identify all those involved in the operation and recover counterfeit currency.

The investigation, carried out under the direct supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-8) Mayur Patil, allegedly revealed that the accused, along with Sindha, had manufactured counterfeit currency worth approximately Rs 60 lakh.

Police further alleged that after Sindha was murdered, members of the group removed counterfeit notes worth around Rs 30 lakh from his possession along with a colour printer, a laptop and other equipment used in producing the fake currency.

The probe subsequently took investigators beyond Gujarat. Police said counterfeit currency notes, a laptop and other materials were recovered from the residence of accused Chandramohan Sharma in Mehra Chaudhary village of Agra district in Uttar Pradesh.

A colour printer and other equipment allegedly used in the operation were traced to the residence of a relative of accused Virendrasinh alias Viru Baghel in Dholpur district of Rajasthan.

Police stated that a total of Rs 28,94,800 in counterfeit Indian currency notes was recovered during the operation.

Investigators later arrested Meraj Rabari, 49, a farmer from Kudwa Wadi area of Banaskantha district, on the basis of technical surveillance and intelligence inputs.

Police said further investigation into his alleged involvement is continuing.

The accused named in the case include Imran Sabbir Sindha, who is deceased; Suraj Sahani, 20, originally from Bihar and residing in Narol area of the city; Ravikumar Shah, 23, originally from Bihar and residing in Vatva; Virendrasinh alias Viru Baghel, 25, originally from Agra district in Uttar Pradesh; Chandramohan Sharma, 23, also originally from Agra district; Meraj Rabari of Banaskantha district; and a juvenile.

Police records show that Sindha had previously been booked in counterfeit currency cases.

One case was registered at Godhra A Division Police Station in 2024 under Sections 489(B), 489(C) and 114 of the Indian Penal Code, while another was registered at Salabatpura Police Station in Surat City under Sections 489(B), 489(C) and 120(B) of the IPC.

Rabari also has a criminal history, according to police. He was previously booked under Sections 489(B) and 489(C) of the IPC in a counterfeit currency case registered at Thara Police Station in 2009 and was convicted in that case.

He was also named in a theft case registered at Patan City B Division Police Station in 2017 under Section 379 of the IPC.

Officials described the case as a conspiracy aimed at undermining the country’s economy and said efforts were focused on apprehending all those involved and recovering counterfeit currency already produced by the network.

–IANS

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