Mohali: Police on Thursday busted an inter-state fake currency module operating across Punjab and neighbouring states. The action, carried out by Dera Bassi police, led to the arrest of two suspects and recovery of over Rs 11 lakh in original demonetised currency and Rs 9.88 crore in fake and duplicate notes.
Senior superintendent of police, Mohali (SSP) Harmandeep Hans said the arrested accused have been identified as Sachin, a resident of Bharat Nagar, Pheowa (Kurukshetra), and Gurdeep, a resident of Gurdev Nagar, Kurukshetra.
Police said they received a tip-off about the movement of two men linked to an inter-state syndicate involved in circulating counterfeit currency. Special teams were formed under the supervision of SP Rural Manpreet Singh and DSP, Dera Bassi, Bikramjit Singh Brar. The teams, led by inspector Sumit Mor (SHO, Dera Bassi) and inspector Malkeet Singh (in-charge, Anti-Narcotics Cell), set up a naka near PWD Rest House, Ghaggar Bridge, on the Old Ambala–Kalka Highway.
The suspects were intercepted while travelling in a white Scorpio-N. During a search, police recovered demonetised currency notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 2,000 denomination, along with a massive stock of duplicate currency amounting to nearly Rs 10 crore.
The SSP said the accused placed genuine currency on the top and bottom of each bundle while stuffing the middle with fake notes, enabling them to cheat unsuspecting individuals.
Preliminary interrogation revealed that the duo duped several people in Punjab, Rajasthan, and other states. Both accused have a criminal background, with multiple past cases of cheating and counterfeit currency registered against them. An earlier FIR (No. 248, dated Oct 1, 2025) had been registered against them at Phase 1 police station for cheating a Mohali resident of Rs 7 crore in 2023. Similar cases have been traced to Rajasthan and other states.
In the current case, a fresh FIR No 327 dated Nov 13, 2025 has been registered at Dera Bassi police station under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Police said further investigation is in progress and more arrests are likely.
BOX: Detailed recovery
Original currency recovered
- Rs 7.4L in old Rs 1,000 notes
- Rs 3.5L in old Rs 2,000 notes
- Rs 13,000 in new Rs 500 notes
Total original currency: Rs 11L
Fake currency
- 80 bundles of old Rs 1,000 notes (approx Rs 80 lakh)
- 60 bundles of new Rs 500 notes (approx Rs 30 lakh)
# Fake Fortune Foiled: Inter-State Counterfeit Racket Busted with Rs 9.95 Cr Haul in Punjab
In the shadowy underbelly of India's financial fraud networks, where demonetized dreams meet digital deception, a routine tip-off has unraveled a multi-crore empire of fakes. On November 13, 2025, Dera Bassi police in Mohali, Punjab, smashed an inter-state fake currency syndicate, nabbing two key players and seizing a staggering Rs 9.95 crore in bogus bills and original demonetized notes. This isn't just a bust—it's a blow to the insidious web of counterfeiters preying on unsuspecting traders across Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, and beyond. As authorities peel back the layers, the operation's audacious tactics reveal how far fraudsters will go to mimic the mighty rupee.
## The High-Stakes Takedown: From Tip-Off to Traffic Stop
It started with whispers—a reliable informant alerting Dera Bassi cops to a duo peddling high-value fakes along the bustling Old Ambala-Kalka Highway. Acting on the intel, a team led by DSP Narinder Singh Bhullar set up a naka (checkpoint) near the PWD Rest House on the Ghaggar Bridge. Around 8 PM, their trap snapped shut on a white SUV zipping through the dusk.
Inside? Sachin, 35, from Pehowa in Kurukshetra, Haryana, and Gurdeep, 42, from Gurdev Nagar in the same district—seasoned operators in the underworld's currency con game. A quick search yielded the motherlode: bundles upon bundles of notes that could have flooded markets from Ludhiana to Jaipur. No shootouts, no chases—just sharp policing turning a routine patrol into a jackpot raid. The duo's vehicle, a Mahindra Scorpio, now sits impounded as evidence in this unfolding saga.
## The Counterfeit Cache: A Breakdown of the Rs 9.95 Cr Seizure
The haul was as meticulous as it was menacing, blending fresh fakes with "vintage" originals to lure buyers. Police recovered a mix that screamed sophistication: demonetized notes used as bait, wrapped around stacks of counterfeits to pass cursory checks. Here's the nitty-gritty tally:
| | Rs 2,000 notes (439 bundles) | ~Rs 8.78 crore | Bulk of the operation's "product" |
| **Total Seizure** | - | **Rs 9.95 crore** | Enough to destabilize local economies |
The fakes were eerily lifelike—printed on quality paper with passable watermarks and serial numbers—sourced from underground presses in Haryana and Rajasthan, per initial confessions. Their genius ploy? Sandwiching genuine outer layers around fake innards, fooling even wary shopkeepers into bulk buys at a "discount."
## The Accused: From Small-Time Hustlers to Syndicate Heavyweights
Sachin and Gurdeep aren't wide-eyed rookies; they're repeat offenders with a rap sheet spanning states. Interrogation painted a picture of calculated crooks: Sachin, the logistics man, handled transport and drops; Gurdeep, the financier, networked with printers and distributors. Their syndicate spanned Punjab's industrial belts to Rajasthan's border towns, offloading fakes via middlemen at 40-50% of face value.
But the past caught up fast. Just weeks ago, on October 1, 2025, Mohali's Phase-1 police slapped them with charges under IPC Sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating), and 120-B (conspiracy) for allegedly swindling a local trader out of Rs 7 crore in a 2023 scam. Similar beefs dot Rajasthan dockets—fake note flips, property cons, you name it. "They preyed on trust," DSP Bhullar told reporters, vowing to dismantle the full network. A fresh FIR under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Sections 318(4) (counterfeiting), 178-182 (fraud variants) now pins them down, with remand extended for deeper digs.
## Ripples in the Rupee: Why This Bust Matters Now
India's fake currency fight is perennial—RBI reports over Rs 1,000 crore in seizures annually—but this haul hits different. With elections looming and cash-heavy festivals like Diwali fresh in memory, counterfeit spikes threaten everything from street vendors to black money launderers. These notes, if circulated, could've fueled hawala ops or terror financing, echoing 2016 demonetization ghosts.
Punjab Police DGP Gaurav Yadav hailed it as a "major win," crediting community tips and highway vigilance. But experts warn: As digital payments rise, fakes evolve—think app-based drops or crypto ties. This bust? A reminder that vigilance pays, but the war's far from won. Raids continue, with sketches of three more accomplices circulating.
In the end, Sachin and Gurdeep's "empire" crumbled not from high-tech takedowns, but human grit. One SUV, one tip, one trillion rupees safer—proof that in the fake note game, the house always wins... eventually.
*What's your view—do these busts deter counterfeiters, or just spawn smarter syndicates? Spill in the comments!*
*(As of November 15, 2025. Sources: The Tribune, Times of India, Indian Express.)*
