Rs 100,Rs 50 notes fake now

The fake currency racket has got wider with counterfeiters believed to have introduced a large volume of smaller-value notes-Rs 100 and Rs 50-in the market.

The fake currency racket has got wider with counterfeiters believed to have introduced a large volume of smaller-value notes Rs 100 and Rs 50 in the market.

Pune has been a major target. In January,the state Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) arrested Maulana Shabbir Gangavali,a suspected Indian Mujahideen member,and seized 250 fake Rs 100 notes .

Fake currency of smaller denominations is being recovered from local markets and banks,too. On April 5,Vishrambaug police arrested a couple,Anil Munnalal Saroj (22) and his wife Asha (21),of Lohiya Nagar,Parvati Darshan for giving three counterfeit Rs 100 notes to a shopkeeper in Budhwar Peth for a gown. The shopkeeper,Atul Naik (38),informed the police.

Police sub-inspector S B Mule said,Mostly,fake notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denomination were being circulated on a large scale. Now we are coming across fake notes of Rs 100 and Rs 50 denominations. The racket has roots in Bangladesh and Pakistan.

Asked about the source from where Anil and Asha got the notes,Mule said,We could not interrogate them properly as Asha is pregnant.

Police sources claim the couple had more fake Rs 100 notes but tore these into very small pieces. The police are probing if the couple had links with Bangladeshi infiltrators who are believed to be frequently bringing fake currency into India.

On Thursday,Satishkumar Sohanlal Wadhavan (53),currency manager with the Punjab National Bank,Camp,lodged a complaint with Cantonment police against an unknown person for depositing fake notes in 15 branches of the bank in the city between April 2008 and January 2009. The fake notes comprised 10 of Rs 100,five of Rs 500 and two of Rs 1,000.

Police are also investigating the modus operandi.

Story continues below this ad

The arrested couple had bought a gown for Rs 300 and paid with three counterfeit Rs 100 notes. The modus operandi of circulating counterfeit Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes was different. Most racketeers would buy goods worth less than Rs 100,pay with high-value counterfeit notes and get genuine change.

In February,the PMPML alerted bus conductors after realising that the money collected from passengers included 12 fake Rs 500 notes.

Chandan Haygunde

Chandan Haygunde is an Assistant Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With over 20 years of experience in journalism, he is one of the region's most authoritative voices on crime, national security, and legal affairs. Professional Profile Specialization: He specialises covering issues related to Crime, Courts, National Security and Human Rights. He has done investigative reporting on incidents of terrorism, left wing extremism, espionage cases, wildlife crimes, narcotics racket, cyber crimes and sensational murder cases in Pune and other parts of Maharashtra. While working on the ‘Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) Fellowship on Tigers, Tiger Habitats and Conservation’ in 2012, he reported extensively on the illegal activities in the Sahyadri Tiger Reserve in Maharashtra. He is at the helm of the widely read weekly series “Pune Crime Files”. He is widely recognized for his deep-dive coverage of the cases related to the Koregaon Bhima violence in Pune and the Elgaar Parishad investigation. Key Beats: His portfolio includes covering crimes mainly under the jurisdiction of Pune City, Pune rural and Pimpri Chinchwad Police, along with the sensitive cases from the state, being investigated by the Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), and the National Investigation Agency (NIA). Background: Before his long tenure at The Indian Express, he worked with other Marathi and English publications, giving him a unique grassroots understanding of Maharashtra's socio-political landscape. Awards and Recognition: He got the CMS PANOS Young Environment Journalist Award in January 2014 for investigative reports on illegal activities in Sahyadri Tiger Rerserve. He received the award for outstanding investigative journalism by the Lokmat group in Pune in January 2020, “Missing since 2010, Pune youth a ‘Maoist Commander’ in Chhattisgarh”, which appeared on July 9, 2019. Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) In recent months, Chandan’s reporting has focused on high-profile terror case investigations, inter-state firearms racket, leopard movements in Pune city, cyber scams and hearings of the Koregaon Bhima Commission of Inquiry. 1. High-Profile crimes and terrorism cases “Techie linked to Al-Qaeda preached democracy is against Shariat” (Nov 17, 2025). Reporting on the ongoing investigation into the arrest of IT professional Zubair Hangargekar (37) from Pune for alleged terror links. “The case against Jyoti Jagtap, member of ‘Maoist front’ Kabir Kala Manch and Elgaar Parishad organiser, granted interim bail by apex court” (Nov 20, 2025) Tracking the updates in the high profile Elgaar Parishad case related to the alleged naxal activities in urban areas. “How NIA arrested doctor turned ‘ISIS recruiter’ in Maharashtra terror module case” (Nov 24, 2025) After the arrest of doctors in Delhi Red Fort blast, a report on alleged terror links of a consulting anaesthetist from a Pune hospital. “A year after loco pilot averts tragedy by spotting gas cylinder on railway track, probe still inconclusive” (Dec 8, 2025). Report on the unsolved case of a suspected sabotage incident, which could have derailed a train. “No records of Sambhaji Maharaj’s cremation available: Author, ex-IAS officer Vishwas Patil tells Koregaon Bhima panel” (Dec 1, 2025) Reporting on a sensitive issue related to the Koregaon Bhima violence. 2. Inter-state firearms racket "Pune police swoop down on ‘village of pistols’ in Madhya Pradesh; 36 detained, 50 kilns destroyed" (Nov 22, 2025) "Recce a week before, microplanning: how Pune police raided ‘village of pistols’ in MP" (Nov 24, 2025) Reporting on the illegal gun manufacturing units in Umarti village, Madhya Pradesh 3. Cybercrime & Financial Scams “Pimpri Chinchwad police arrest ‘bank account supplier’ with links to China, nationwide cyber scams" (Nov 27, 2025) An investigative look at the modus opernadi of international cyber-gangs cheating high-earning professionals across the country ‘Your case linked to Pahalgam terrorist’: Pune businessman loses Rs 1.44 crore to fraudster posing as NIA chief" (Oct 18, 2025) Report on the tricks played on cyber scammers cheating people through digital arrest frauds Signature Style: The Investigative Hit Chandan is known for his ability to cultivate deep-cover sources within the police and intelligence agencies. His writing often goes beyond the "police version" of events, providing historical context and identifying systemic lapses. He is particularly respected for his balanced reporting on sensitive communal issues and his persistent tracking of the Maoist urban-link cases, making his columns essential reading for legal experts and policymakers. X (Twitter): @chandan_pune ... Read More

Click here to join Express Pune WhatsApp channel and get a curated list of our stories