Was a Doctor Behind the Fake Currency Racket Arrested in MP's Khandwa?
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Synopsis
In a stunning police operation, authorities in Khandwa arrested a suspended doctor and two accomplices involved in a sophisticated counterfeit currency racket. The investigation revealed a network operating from a mosque hideout, shocking the local community and raising concerns about potential links to terrorist financing.
Key Takeaways
- Police arrested Dr. Prateek Navlakhe and two accomplices for running a counterfeit currency racket.
- A Special Investigation Team uncovered the operation through surveillance and field probes.
- Authorities seized Rs 25,000 in fake currency and various printing tools.
- The counterfeit notes were distributed through agents in Nagpur and Malegaon.
- Concerns about potential links to terror financing have been raised.
Bhopal/Khandwa, Nov 23 (NationPress) In a significant operation against counterfeit currency syndicates, Khandwa police successfully dismantled an intricate inter-state fake notes network on Sunday, apprehending three primary operatives, including the suspected mastermind, Dr. Prateek Navlakhe. This suspended medical practitioner, with a background in embezzlement, was traced back to a hideout linked to a mosque cleric.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by Additional SP Mahendra Taranekar under the guidance of SP Manoj Kumar Rai, utilized technical surveillance and field investigations to unravel the operation.
Upon receiving fresh intelligence, the SIT targeted a Bagmugaliya location in Bhopal, capturing the trio in the act.
The authorities seized a total of Rs 25,000 in counterfeit currency, along with nine mobile phones, a laptop, 32 ATM cards, 15 cheque books, and printing equipment, indicating an overall haul exceeding Rs 30 lakh.
"This prison-formed gang transformed criminal connections into a counterfeit network, exploiting public trust," remarked Taranekar, pledging further investigations into property acquisitions and broader associations. Investigations revealed that Navlakhe, aged 43, an MBBS graduate and former Resident Medical Officer at Burhanpur district hospital, orchestrated the scheme from a rented flat in Gokuldham Society, Bhopal.
Previously incarcerated for misappropriating crores of government funds, Navlakhe enlisted cellmates Gopal alias Rahul (35, from Harda, currently in Bhopal) and Dinesh Gore (43, from Amravati, Maharashtra) during their overlapping jail sentences for unrelated offenses.
After their release, they began printing notes—four Rs 500 notes per sheet—using a drying machine and distributing them through agents in Nagpur and Malegaon.
Since 2022, this gang, operating from the shadows of Khandwa District Jail, allegedly inundated markets with counterfeit Rs 500 notes, acquiring properties through illicit means.
The operation traces back to November 2, when Jawar police, alerted by authorities from Maharashtra's Malegaon, raided a madrasa room in Pethiya village.
During the raid, they uncovered fake currency valued at Rs 19.78 lakh in Rs 500 notes, along with printing presses and inks, concealed in the quarters of Maulana Zuber Ansari (aka Zubair), a cleric from Burhanpur.
Ansari, currently detained in Maharashtra with accomplice Nazir Akram for trafficking Rs 10 lakh in counterfeit currency, admitted to obtaining the notes from Dr. Pratik Navlakhe.
The scandal has shocked residents in Pethiya, sparking panic in the wake of the raid, as well as in Burhanpur, Navlakhe's hometown. Officials are raising concerns about possible connections to terrorist financing, albeit unverified, and have informed the National Investigation Agency.
With charges filed under pertinent sections regarding counterfeiting and conspiracy, the suspects are undergoing intensive interrogation.
This operation highlights the escalating threat of fake currency in central India, prompting police to call for increased awareness regarding counterfeit Rs 500 notes that mimic genuine security features.
Point of View
We approach this incident with a commitment to factual reporting and community awareness. The arrest of a medical professional involved in such illicit activities raises serious questions about the integrity of public trust and the urgent need for vigilance against rising counterfeit threats in our society.
NationPress
24/11/2025
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the counterfeit currency case?
Dr. Prateek Navlakhe, a suspended doctor, along with two accomplices, was arrested by Khandwa police.
What evidence was seized during the arrests?
Authorities seized Rs 25,000 in fake notes, nine mobile phones, a laptop, 32 ATM cards, 15 cheque books, and printing equipment.
Where did the counterfeit operation originate?
The operation was traced back to a hideout linked to a mosque cleric in Madhya Pradesh.
What are the potential implications of this counterfeit case?
Officials suspect possible links to terrorist financing and have alerted the National Investigation Agency.
How has the local community reacted to these arrests?
Residents in Pethiya and Burhanpur are shocked and panicked following the revelations of the counterfeit operation.
