Police from Mumbai Police have arrested two men for allegedly cheating a worker from Goregaon out of Rs7 lakh using a fake “chemical currency doubling” scheme.
The accused, Raj Singh and Prakash Gupta, reportedly gained the trust of a 34-year-old Bharat Gas godown worker from Goregaon West through a series of staged demonstrations.
According to investigators, the fraud began in December 2025, when the victim was called to Vasai. There, the accused showed him what appeared to be a scientific process where a Rs500 note doubled after applying a “special chemical powder.”
To make the trick believable, the duo repeatedly demonstrated the method using smaller amounts—turning Rs10,000 into Rs20,000 and later Rs20,000 into ₹40,000. They even showed nearly Rs1 lakh being “doubled,” and since the notes were accepted in the market, the victim became convinced the process was genuine.
After gaining his confidence, the accused executed the main fraud. On February 12, they visited the victim’s home and applied the supposed chemical to ₹7 lakh in cash. The money was then wrapped in khaki paper bundles and sealed, with the claim that the process would take two hours.
However, when the victim opened the bundles later, he discovered they contained only folded blank papers. By then, the accused had already fled.
Police registered a case and launched an investigation, eventually tracking down and arresting the duo on March 8. Authorities are now working to recover the stolen amount and determine whether more victims were targeted using similar tactics.
A case has been filed under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
