Pune police have arrested four men in an alleged counterfeit currency racket and seized fake ₹500 notes and computer equipment during an investigation linked to Mahatma Phule Mandai in the city, according to a police press release issued on October 25.
The Vishrambaug Police acted after Police Constables Sachin Abichake and Shailesh Surve received information that a person carrying counterfeit currency would arrive near the market. The information was passed to Police Sub-Inspector Satvayan Gaud and Senior Police Inspector Navnath Jagatap, following which a team laid a trap near Mhalsa Temple, behind Mahatma Phule Mandai in Shukrawar Peth, on October 18 at about 4:45 pm.
Police apprehended Salman Javedin Raje, 30, a resident of Ambegaon, during the operation. The police said 808 counterfeit ₹500 notes, with a face value of ₹4.04 lakh, were seized from him.
During the subsequent investigation, officers identified three alleged accomplices: Shakaj Firoz Ansari, 30, from Nalasopara; Vishal Vilas Galande, 39, from Surpurwadi in Satara district; and Abhijit Ravsaheb Kamble, 30, from Shiroli in Kolhapur district. The three were later apprehended, the press release stated.
The police also seized computer equipment allegedly used in the counterfeiting operation. The seized items included an Epson printer, an HP monitor, a Lenovo keyboard and mouse, and computer CPUs. The equipment was valued at approximately ₹21,900.
The police release separately listed 323 counterfeit ₹500 notes valued at ₹1,61,500 and another 1,128 notes valued at ₹5,64,000. It was not immediately clear from the release whether these quantities formed part of the 808 notes seized from Raje or represented additional recoveries. The quantities and values therefore require clarification from the investigating police.
Senior Police Inspector Navnath Jagatap said the operation followed specific information about the movement of counterfeit currency. The police team acted on that information, apprehended the suspects and continued the investigation into the alleged network.
The case has been registered at Vishrambaug Police Station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023. Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar and other senior officers supervised the operation, while personnel from Vishrambaug Police Station are conducting further investigation.
