Nagpur police seized counterfeit ₹500 notes from a rented flat after a landlord complained about a tenant’s activities.
The seizure at Three Star Society in Chaitanya Nagar has drawn the attention of multiple investigating agencies. Wathoda police recovered 1,600 suspected counterfeit ₹500 notes, along with a laptop and printing equipment, during a search conducted on Saturday. The case is being examined for a possible wider counterfeit currency operation.
How Did the Complaint Lead to the Raid?
The investigation began with a tenancy dispute involving 29-year-old Pushpam Bhandane, who claimed to be from Trimurti Nagar. He had rented an apartment in the Wathoda area on September 26 last year.
The landlord, Ramesh Harde, reportedly became suspicious of the tenant’s activities and asked him to vacate the property. Bhandane had allegedly failed to pay rent for two months and refused to leave, prompting Harde to approach Wathoda police.
When officers reached the apartment, they found it locked. Attempts by the landlord to contact the tenant received only a brief response before his mobile phone became unreachable.
FCRF’s Chief AI Officer Certification Returns on November 14 to Prepare Future AI Leaders
What Did Police Discover Inside?
Harde subsequently opened the apartment using a master key. Police allegedly discovered a printer, laptop, A4-sized papers and a large quantity of suspected counterfeit ₹500 currency notes.
The seizure included 1,600 fake notes, while the reported value of the counterfeit currency was stated to exceed ₹37 lakh. The discovery shifted attention from the original rental dispute to a suspected currency counterfeiting operation. The printing equipment and other recovered materials are now part of the investigation into how the notes were produced and whether they were intended for circulation.
Why Have Multiple Agencies Joined the Investigation?
The recovery has prompted the involvement of the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), along with state and central intelligence agencies. Investigators are examining whether the suspected counterfeiting activity could be connected to a broader operation, including a possible economic terror angle.
Authorities are assessing the printing equipment, the origin of the currency and the possible channels through which the counterfeit notes were intended to circulate. The scale of the suspected operation remains under investigation.
What Are Investigators Trying to Establish?
A central focus is identifying and locating Bhandane, whose identity and background have not yet been independently established. Police are checking whether the name he provided is genuine and whether the documents submitted with his rental agreement are authentic. Investigators are also examining the recovered materials to determine the nature and extent of the suspected counterfeiting activity.
The case illustrates how a landlord’s complaint over unpaid rent led police to investigate a potentially wider financial crime. The actual scale of the operation, the suspect’s identity and any links to a larger network remain unresolved.
Follow for daily updates on cybercrime, corporate fraud, DFIR, hacking, investigations, and digital forensics
