Paper resembling Rs 500 notes, printer and laptop seized from rented flat in Nagpur's Wathoda

Paper printed to resemble Rs 500 notes has been found in a rented flat in the Wathoda area of Nagpur. The alleged case came to light in an action by Wathoda police, who raided a flat in the Three Star Co-operative Society in Wathoda after a complaint from the landlord.

The raid turned up paper printed like currency notes, a laptop, a colour printer, a paper cutter, bottles of ink and other items. Police have put the total value of the seized material at Rs 36,83,600. A case has been registered against Pushpam Bandane (29) under Sections 178, 180 and 181 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

It is not yet clear whether the seized paper is actually counterfeit currency or only paper printed to look like notes.

According to police, Ramesh Gangadhar Harde had rented the first-floor flat to Bandane from September 26, 2025. The rent had not been paid for two months, so the landlord had been trying to contact the tenant. For three days there had been no response from the tenant either.

On October 24, at about 11.30 am, Harde went to the flat to ask for the rent. When there was no answer to his knocking, he opened the door with another master key. Paper printed like Rs 500 notes lay scattered on the sofa inside. Suspicious, he immediately informed Wathoda police. Police then raided the flat and the matter came to light.

The incident has caused a stir in the city. Wathoda police are investigating further.

Several questions have arisen after the action: what was the purpose of printing the note-like paper, how long the alleged activity had been going on, whether a larger racket is involved, and what the background of the suspected accused is. These are expected to be answered once the police investigation is complete.