1,659 fake currency notes seized from 18 banks in Ahmedabad in 2 years

A total of 1,659 counterfeit currency notes of various denominations, with a face value of ₹5.67 lakh, have been seized across 18 private and nationalised banks in Ahmedabad in two years.

The fake notes, comprising ₹500, ₹200, ₹100 and ₹50 denominations, were found to be in circulation through cash deposit machines and banking channels, raising concerns over new methods being adopted by counterfeiters.

The forged notes were of such quality that they were difficult to distinguish from genuine currency, even by bank staff.

An FIR has been registered by the Crime Branch Special Operations Group based on a complaint by ASI Liaqat Ali against unidentified persons.

Investigations revealed that 272 fake ₹500 notes, along with 72 notes of ₹200, 79 notes of ₹100 and 27 notes of ₹50, were detected in ICICI Bank. Similarly, 531 counterfeit notes of various denominations were found in HDFC Bank, while 207 fake notes were flagged by the Reserve Bank of India.

Which currency notes were seized?

The counterfeit currency was recovered from multiple banks, including Kalupur Co-operative Bank, Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda, Saraswat Bank, IDBI Bank and State Bank of India.

Police suspect that individuals may have been depositing fake currency into ATMs and cash deposit machines to circulate the notes within the banking system.

In a surprising finding, six ₹2,000 notes, withdrawn from circulation in recent years, were also among the seized currency. Officials said the presence of such notes has raised questions about verification processes.

Authorities also found that some counterfeit notes included crude reproductions such as colour photocopies and imitation “children’s notes”.