Patiala, May 18
The Punjab Police have dismantled a fake Indian currency network in a targeted operation, arresting four men and recovering counterfeit notes worth ₹5.5 lakh, officials said. Director General of Police Gaurav Yadav said the Counter Intelligence unit Patiala (Malerkotla wing) carried out the operation as part of a wider drive to make the state safer and curb fake Indian currency note (FICN) circulation.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Nazar Khan from Jhuneer village, Malerkotla region, Punjab, Raj Mohammad from Dhuri, Sangrur district, Punjab, Mukhtiar Singh (alias Gurjeet Singh) from Malikpur, Jind district, Haryana, and Asif Ali from Malerkotla, Punjab.
According to officials, all recovered notes were in ₹500 denomination. Initial investigation suggests that Raj Mohammad has a prior criminal record and is already facing a case under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Assistant Inspector General of Police Simrat Kaur said the operation began with the arrest of Nazar Khan and Raj Mohammad, leading to the recovery of ₹4 lakh in fake currency. Further investigation led to the arrest of the remaining two accused and recovery of an additional ₹1.5 lakh.
Police said the module’s forward and backward linkages are under investigation, and further arrests cannot be ruled out. An FIR has been registered at Amargarh Police Station, Malerkotla under Sections 179 and 180 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), officials confirmed.
