Nagpur: The recovery of suspected counterfeit currency with a face value of Rs 37 lakh from a rented house in Chaitanyeshwar Nagar, Kharbi, has triggered a parallel investigation by the Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), with investigators probing whether the operation was an isolated printing unit or part of a wider counterfeit currency network.
The case, initially uncovered by Wathoda Police, has taken a new turn with the tenant, identified as Pushpam Krishna Bandane (30), remaining absconding. Police teams are analysing his call detail records (CDRs), examining mobile phone location data and scrutinising his frequent contacts to trace his movements and identify possible associates.
Investigators are also exploring whether the suspected counterfeit notes were intended for circulation through fraudulent transactions and whether the accused had links with people operating beyond Nagpur. However, the extent of the network and the possible circulation of the notes remain to be established.
Landlord’s suspicion exposes alleged printing unit
The racket came to light after the house owner, Ramesh Gangadhar Harde, grew suspicious when Bandane remained absent from the premises for several days. Bandane, a resident of Trimurti Nagar, had reportedly been occupying the house at Plot No. 18, Chaitanyeshwar Nagar, for around one-and-a-half years.
The tenancy agreement had expired in January, and the tenant had allegedly failed to pay rent. The dispute had earlier reached the police after Bandane allegedly threatened the landlord with a weapon over the rent issue.
Suspecting something amiss, Harde eventually broke open the locked premises and stumbled upon a collection of printing equipment, printing material and bundles of suspected counterfeit Rs 500 notes. The material was reportedly scattered inside the room, with some bundles kept in a bucket.
A preliminary examination revealed that the notes were not uniform in their printing. While some bore printing on both sides, others had been printed on only one side. The condition of the seized material has become an important part of the investigation, as forensic examination could help establish the method used and whether the notes were ready for circulation.
Wathoda Police, led by Police Inspector Pramod Pore, registered a case and launched an investigation into the suspected counterfeit currency printing operation.
CDR analysis becomes crucial to tracing accused
With Bandane still at large, investigators are relying on digital and technical evidence to reconstruct his movements and identify people who may have been in contact with him.
Police are analysing his call detail records and available mobile phone location data. Several frequent callers are reportedly under scrutiny as investigators attempt to determine whether any of them had a role in procuring printing equipment, arranging materials or facilitating the movement of the suspected counterfeit notes.
The analysis is expected to help investigators establish the accused’s whereabouts, identify possible associates and reconstruct the period during which the alleged operation was active.
Officials are also attempting to determine whether Bandane operated independently or was working at the behest of others. Investigators suspect that he may not have been a major operator in the alleged racket, raising the possibility that the printing activity could have been connected to a broader chain. This aspect, however, remains unconfirmed.
ATS probes possible links beyond Nagpur
The ATS has initiated a parallel probe to examine whether the case has any wider implications beyond the city. Its investigation is expected to focus on the possible source of the printing equipment and raw material, financial transactions, potential suppliers and any suspected distribution channels.
A key question before investigators is whether the recovered notes were merely being printed or had already entered circulation. Police are attempting to establish whether any unsuspecting people were cheated through transactions involving counterfeit currency.
Investigators are also examining the possibility of fraudulent offers in which counterfeit notes may have been offered at prices below their face value. Such a lead could help them identify potential buyers, intermediaries or other persons connected with the suspected operation. No confirmed link to a specific transaction or distribution network has yet been established.
Rs 37 lakh recovery raises unanswered questions
The seizure has left investigators with several questions: How long had the alleged printing operation been running? How many notes had been produced before the premises were discovered? Were any consignments delivered outside the house? And who supplied the equipment and printing material?
The stated face value of the recovered suspected counterfeit currency is Rs 37 lakh, but the actual volume of currency produced by the alleged operation and the extent of any circulation remain unclear.
Forensic examination of the seized notes and printing equipment, combined with the analysis of digital evidence, is likely to be central to answering these questions.
The arrest of Bandane is considered crucial to establishing the alleged operation’s scale, identifying possible accomplices and determining whether the rented premises served as an independent printing unit or as one link in a larger network.
For now, the investigation remains focused on tracing the absconding accused, verifying the suspected counterfeit currency and establishing whether the alleged racket had any organised network behind it.
