Ahmedabad Crime Branch seizes ₹2.38 crore counterfeit notes, 7 held, Surat printing unit dismantled

In a crackdown on counterfeit currency, the Ahmedabad Crime Branch has arrested seven persons, including a woman, and seized fake Indian currency notes worth ₹2.38 crore, officials said on Thursday. The operation also led to the dismantling of a clandestine printing unit in Surat.

Acting on specific intelligence on March 18, Crime Branch officials intercepted a white Toyota Fortuner near the Amraiwadi area of Ahmedabad. The vehicle was allegedly transporting counterfeit ₹500 notes from Surat for distribution. A search of the car led to the recovery of bundles of fake currency concealed inside a black bag and hidden compartments, following which all occupants were detained.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the accused had been running a counterfeit currency operation for nearly four months from a residential premises in Surat. Police identified Mukeshbhai Lakhabhai Thummar as the alleged kingpin, who arranged the infrastructure required for printing, including high-resolution printers, paper-cutting machines and other equipment.

The other accused have been identified as Ashokbhai Dhanjibhai Mavani, Rameshbhai Vallabhbhai Bhalar, Divyesh Ishwarbhai Rana, Pradipbhai Dilipbhai Jotangiya, Bharatbhai Valjibhai Kakadiya, and a woman from the Katargam area of Surat.

Officials said the accused sourced specialised high-security paper embedded with imitation security threads resembling Reserve Bank of India markings such as 'RBI' and 'Bharat' from China through online portals. Payments for procuring these materials were allegedly made using cryptocurrency, with investigators now examining the financial trail in detail.

Investigators further found that advanced digital tools, including photo-editing software and artificial intelligence-based platforms, were used to refine the design and visual features of the counterfeit notes to closely mimic genuine currency. One of the accused reportedly possessed expertise in graphic design and printing technology, which was utilised to enhance the quality of the fake notes.

Police said the group had already printed and circulated counterfeit currency worth an estimated ₹10 lakh to ₹20 lakh earlier this year in small quantities to avoid detection. Encouraged by the initial success, the accused expanded their operation. The fake notes were primarily distributed in Surat and nearby areas before being transported to Ahmedabad.

Following the arrests in Ahmedabad, a Crime Branch team, in coordination with the Surat Crime Branch, raided the printing unit in Surat and seized additional counterfeit notes and machinery used in the operation.

From Ahmedabad, police recovered fake ₹500 notes worth approximately ₹2.10 crore (around 42,000 notes), a Fortuner vehicle valued at about ₹25 lakh, and mobile phones and cash worth ₹1.20 lakh. From the Surat premises, counterfeit currency worth ₹28 lakh, along with 16 reams of security-thread paper, a printer, laptop, paper-cutting machine and a currency-counting machine, were seized.

Investigators have also identified two additional accused who were to receive the consignment for further distribution. While one of them is a resident of Ahmedabad, the other hails from another city. Both are currently absconding and are believed to be key links in the distribution network.

Police said the racket posed a serious threat to the country’s financial system, as the circulation of high-quality counterfeit currency could undermine public confidence in legal tender and potentially fund organised crime.

“The timely interception has not only prevented the circulation of a large volume of fake currency but also helped dismantle an organised supply chain at its source,” a senior officer said.