Thane Crime Branch Busts Counterfeit Currency Racket In Bhiwandi; 6 Arrested, Fake Notes And Equipment Worth ₹40 Lakh Seized

Thane: The Thane Crime Branch Unit One has arrested six individuals from Bhiwandi for allegedly manufacturing counterfeit currency and possessing related equipment valued at over Rs 40 lakh. The accused have been identified as Suraj Tanaji Shende, Bharat Sase, Swapnil Patil, Ramdas Dalvi, Vijay Karnekar alias Vicky, and Shekhar Battin.

A Crime Branch officer received a tip-off that a group of individuals would be arriving in the Avchitpada area of Bhiwandi to allegedly exchange counterfeit Rs 500 notes. Senior officials were immediately alerted, and a team was deployed to the location.

Three suspects—Shende, Sase, and Patil—were detained at the scene. Upon searching them, police discovered 60 bundles of counterfeit Rs 500 notes (100 notes), totaling Rs 30 lakh. The trio was arrested on May 3. An FIR has been registered against them under Sections 178(1), 180, and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.

Police stated that after being taken to the station for interrogation, the accused revealed the names of three accomplices. Acting on this information, officers conducted a raid in the Sawad Naka area of Bhiwandi and apprehended Ramdas Dalvi, Vijay Karnekar, and Shekhar Battin.

The raid also resulted in the seizure of a laptop, printer, cutter, bond paper, counterfeit currency worth Rs 15 lakh, and other tools used for printing fake notes.

Police Inspector of Thane Crime Branch Unit One, confirmed, "The accused were produced in court and have been remanded to police custody for further investigation."