The Kalachowki Police have uncovered a counterfeit currency racket and seized Rs25 lakh worth of fake Rs500 notes from the Cotton Green area of Mumbai. One person, Ankit Dinanath Parashar, has been arrested, while three others — Sama Hussain Latif, Kabir, and Ranjit Bera — remain absconding.
The operation began after a 31-year-old man, Deepak Purushottam Jadhav, alerted authorities. He was approached by two individuals, Kabir and Nawab Mokar, who claimed they could supply counterfeit Rs500 notes that could bypass ATM and scanner detection. They demanded Rs1 lakh in return for Rs5 lakh worth of fake currency.
Jadhav informed API Hasan Mulani, prompting senior officers to form four teams and lay a trap near Reay Road station (East). In the early hours of June 28, 2025, the accused Ankit Parashar arrived at the location with the fake currency. Once Jadhav gave the signal, police apprehended him on the spot.
A search revealed five bundles of notes, where only the top notes were genuine and the rest were counterfeit. During interrogation, Ankit admitted the gang had been luring victims by offering fake notes in bulk for a fraction of the value.
Police believe this gang has duped several individuals over the past month. Efforts are underway to track down the remaining suspects and uncover the full extent of the counterfeit network.
