Gujarat Police bust fake currency racket worth ₹28.94 lakh, 6 arrested in Ahmedabad
Synopsis
A murder probe in Ahmedabad's Vatva area unravelled an alleged interstate counterfeit currency network spanning Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan. Police say the gang printed roughly ₹60 lakh in fake ₹500 notes — and the case only cracked open because one of the key accused was himself murdered.
Key Takeaways
Ahmedabad Police recovered ₹28,94,800 in counterfeit Indian currency notes during the operation.
The racket was uncovered while investigating a murder case at Vatva Police Station .
The gang allegedly manufactured a total of approximately ₹60 lakh in fake ₹500 notes from a rented house at Satej Homes, Vatva since 16 March .
Six accused have been arrested, spanning Gujarat, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan ; a juvenile is also named.
Key accused Imran Sabbir Sindha had prior counterfeit currency cases in Godhra (2024) and Surat ; accused Meraj Rabari was convicted in a similar case in 2009 .
Investigation was supervised by DCP (Zone-8) Mayur Patil ; probe into further accused is ongoing.
Ahmedabad Police have dismantled an alleged interstate counterfeit currency network, recovering fake Indian currency notes with a face value of ₹28,94,800 and arresting six accused, officials said on Saturday, 6 June. The racket came to light during the investigation of a murder case registered at Vatva Police Station in Ahmedabad.
How the Racket Was Uncovered
The breakthrough came when investigators probing a murder under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita searched a flat linked to the deceased accused, Imran Sabbir Sindha. Inside, they found specialised printing equipment and materials used to manufacture counterfeit notes.
According to officials, Sindha and his associates had allegedly been running a fake currency manufacturing unit from a rented house at Satej Homes in Vatva since 16 March. The group allegedly printed counterfeit ₹500 notes and distributed them through multiple individuals for circulation in the market.
The Interstate Trail
The investigation extended well beyond Gujarat. Counterfeit notes, a laptop and other materials were recovered from the residence of accused Chandramohan Sharma, 23, in Mehra Chaudhary village of Agra district, Uttar Pradesh. A colour printer and allied equipment were traced to the home of a relative of accused Virendrasinh alias Viru Baghel, 25, in Dholpur district, Rajasthan.
Acting on technical surveillance and intelligence inputs, police subsequently arrested Meraj Rabari, 49, a farmer from Kudwa Wadi area of Banaskantha district. Investigation into his alleged role is reportedly continuing.
Scale of the Operation
Investigators allege the accused, together with Sindha, manufactured counterfeit currency worth approximately ₹60 lakh in total. After Sindha was murdered, members of the group allegedly removed counterfeit notes worth around ₹30 lakh from his possession, along with a colour printer, a laptop and other production equipment.
The operation was carried out by multiple teams of the Local Crime Branch (LCB) Zone-8 and Vatva Police Station, under the direct supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Zone-8) Mayur Patil. A separate offence was registered under Sections 61(2)(a), 178, 179, 180 and 181 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
Accused Profiles and Criminal History
The accused named in the case include the deceased Imran Sabbir Sindha; Suraj Sahani, 20, originally from Bihar and residing in Narol; Ravikumar Shah, 23, originally from Bihar and residing in Vatva; Virendrasinh alias Viru Baghel, 25, from Agra district; Chandramohan Sharma, 23, also from Agra district; Meraj Rabari of Banaskantha; and a juvenile.
Police records indicate Sindha had previously been booked in two separate counterfeit currency cases — one at Godhra A Division Police Station in 2024 and another at Salabatpura Police Station in Surat — both under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code. Rabari was convicted in a counterfeit currency case registered at Thara Police Station in 2009 and was also named in a theft case in Patan in 2017.
What Officials Said
Officials described the conspiracy as a deliberate attempt to undermine the country's economy. Efforts are reportedly focused on apprehending all remaining members of the network and recovering any counterfeit currency already in circulation.
Point of View
With equipment in Rajasthan, distribution links in UP and printing in Gujarat. The murder of the ringleader did not end the operation — his associates allegedly stripped his flat of notes and machinery and carried on. That continuity suggests the network had depth beyond one individual. The prior convictions of at least two accused also raise questions about whether existing surveillance mechanisms for repeat offenders are functioning as intended.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Ahmedabad counterfeit currency bust?
Police recovered ₹28,94,800 in fake Indian currency notes, primarily counterfeit ₹500 denominations, along with a colour printer, a laptop and other note-printing equipment. The seizures were made across locations in Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan.
How did Gujarat Police uncover the fake currency racket?
The racket came to light during the investigation of a murder case registered at Vatva Police Station in Ahmedabad. A search of a flat linked to the deceased accused, Imran Sabbir Sindha, revealed printing equipment and materials used to manufacture counterfeit notes.
Who are the accused in the Ahmedabad fake currency case?
The accused include the deceased Imran Sabbir Sindha, Suraj Sahani (20, Bihar), Ravikumar Shah (23, Bihar), Virendrasinh alias Viru Baghel (25, Agra), Chandramohan Sharma (23, Agra), Meraj Rabari (49, Banaskantha) and a juvenile. Six have been arrested; investigation is continuing.
What is the total value of counterfeit currency allegedly manufactured by the gang?
According to police, the accused allegedly manufactured counterfeit currency worth approximately ₹60 lakh in total. Of this, notes worth around ₹30 lakh were allegedly removed by associates after Sindha's murder, and ₹28.94 lakh was eventually recovered during the investigation.
Which sections were invoked against the accused?
A separate offence was registered under Sections 61(2)(a), 178, 179, 180 and 181 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, in addition to the original murder case filed under Section 103(1) of the same code.
