Fake notes worth Rs 37 lakh found in rented house in Nagpur's Kharbi; ATS joins probe

Suspected counterfeit notes with a face value of Rs 37 lakh have been found in a rented house in Chaitanyeshwar Nagar in Kharbi, Nagpur. The Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) is now conducting a parallel investigation. Investigators are trying to establish whether the house was merely a standalone printing site or part of a larger network of counterfeit notes.

The case was first uncovered by Wathoda police. The tenant, Pushpam Krishna Bandane (30), is absconding. Police are examining his call detail records (CDR), checking his mobile phone locations and questioning those who spoke to him frequently, to find out where he went and who his associates were.

Landlord Ramesh Gangadhar Harde grew suspicious because Bandane had not come home for several days. Bandane, a resident of Trimurti Nagar, is said to have lived in the house at Plot No. 18, Chaitanyeshwar Nagar, for about a year and a half. The rent agreement ended in January and he had allegedly not paid the rent. He is also alleged to have threatened the landlord by showing a weapon over the rent, and the dispute had earlier reached the police.

Sensing something was wrong, Harde opened the locked house. Inside, he found printing equipment, printing material and bundles of suspected counterfeit Rs 500 notes. The items were lying scattered around the room, and some bundles were kept in a bucket.

A preliminary examination showed that the printing on the notes was not uniform. Some notes were printed on both sides, while others were printed on one side only. The condition of the seized material has become important to the investigation. A forensic examination may show how the notes were printed and whether they were ready to be put into circulation. Wathoda police, led by Police Inspector Pramod Pore, have registered a case and begun an investigation.

Officials are also examining whether Bandane worked alone or on someone's instructions. Investigators suspect he may not be a major player in the alleged racket, so the printing could be linked to a larger chain. This has not yet been confirmed. Whether anyone was involved in procuring the printing equipment, bringing in material or moving the notes from place to place is also being examined through the questioning of those who called him frequently.

The ATS has begun a parallel inquiry to check whether there are any leads outside Nagpur. It is expected to focus on the source of the printing equipment and raw material, financial transactions, possible suppliers and distribution routes. A key question in the investigation is whether the notes were only being printed or had already gone into circulation. Police are also looking into whether anyone was cheated in dealings involving counterfeit notes, and whether fraudulent offers were made to give these notes at a price below face value. This could lead to buyers or middlemen. However, a link to any particular transaction or distribution network has not yet been established.

The seizure has raised several questions. How long was the printing going on? How many notes had been printed by the time the site was found? Was any material sent out of the house? Who supplied the equipment and material? Rs 37 lakh is the face value of the seized notes, but how many notes were actually printed and how many went into circulation is not yet clear. Forensic examination and digital evidence are likely to answer these questions.

Bandane's arrest is considered important because it could reveal the extent of the alleged racket, his associates, and whether the rented house was an independent printing centre or one link in a larger chain. For now, the investigation is focused on tracing the absconding accused, verifying the suspected notes and determining whether an organised network is behind the racket.