NIA arrests 2 more in ₹17.29 crore fake currency racket at Saharanpur PNB chest
Synopsis
Fake notes worth ₹17.29 crore didn't just circulate on the street — they made it inside a regulated PNB currency chest in Saharanpur. The NIA's seventh arrest in the case, made across two states on the same day, suggests a sprawling multi-state racket with insiders at the bank already suspended. The full network is still being mapped.
Key Takeaways
NIA arrested Ajay Kumar from Ambala, Haryana on 16 October 2026 and Harish Rounta from Manali, Himachal Pradesh on 22 October 2026 .
Both are described as main conspirators in placing counterfeit notes worth ₹17.29 crore inside the PNB currency chest, Civil Lines, Saharanpur .
Three PNB bank employees were suspended after their involvement surfaced during the inquiry.
Earlier arrests include Adesh Choudhary , Mukesh Kumar , Rajender , Nitu , and Amit Kumar — taken between 7 and 22 September 2026 .
The case was re-registered by the NIA on 3 September 2026 under case no.
RC-02/2026/NIA/LKW .
Investigation is ongoing; remaining suspects are still being pursued.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two more key conspirators in a wide-ranging counterfeit Indian currency racket that placed fake notes worth ₹17.29 crore inside the Punjab National Bank (PNB) currency chest at Civil Lines, Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. The arrests, made on 16 October and 22 October 2026, bring the total number of accused held in the case to seven.
The Two New Arrests
Ajay Kumar was apprehended on 16 October 2026 from Ambala, Haryana, while Harish Rounta was arrested on 22 October 2026 from Manali, Himachal Pradesh, according to the NIA. Both men are described by the agency as main conspirators in the illegal printing and distribution of counterfeit Indian currency notes (CICN).
The NIA said Kumar and Rounta are close associates of previously arrested accused Adesh Choudhary and others involved in the conspiracy to place fake notes inside the PNB currency chest. The case is registered as RC-02/2026/NIA/LKW.
How the Racket Was Uncovered
On 29 August 2026, Police Station Sadar Bazar, District Saharanpur, received credible information leading to the recovery of counterfeit currency notes with a face value of ₹17.29 crore from the PNB branch. The scale of the operation — fake notes embedded inside a regulated bank currency chest — alarmed investigators.
During the inquiry, the involvement of three bank employees also surfaced. The PNB subsequently suspended all three, the NIA confirmed. The case was initially registered as FIR No. 0431/2026 at Police Station Sadar Bazar under Section 178 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, and was re-registered by the NIA on 3 September 2026.
Previous Arrests in the Case
Before Thursday's development, the NIA had already arrested five accused during raids conducted on 7, 15, 20 and 22 September 2026. Those held earlier include FIR-named accused Amit Kumar and key operatives Adesh Choudhary, Mukesh Kumar, Rajender, and Nitu.
Adesh Choudhary, arrested on 7 September 2026, was identified as a contractual driver attached to the PNB currency chest and a resident of Gangoh Road, New Nandpuri Colony, under Qutub Sher Police Station in Manak Mau, Saharanpur. Officials reportedly suspect him of playing a pivotal role in circulating high-value fake notes across the network.
Investigation Status and What Comes Next
The NIA has stated that the investigation is ongoing, with agencies working to unravel the full scope of the conspiracy and apprehend remaining co-accused persons and suspects. The breach of a regulated PNB currency chest — a facility meant to store and distribute genuine bank notes — has raised serious questions about internal oversight at the branch level.
This is the seventh arrest in the case since it was taken over by the NIA in early September, signalling that the agency believes the racket extends well beyond the individuals already in custody. Further arrests are expected as the probe widens.
Point of View
Audited facilities; their compromise implies either systemic oversight failure or deliberate insider collusion, or both. The suspension of three bank employees confirms the latter is in play. Seven arrests across multiple states in under two months suggests the NIA is moving fast, but the agency's own statement that the 'complete conspiracy' is yet to be unravelled is a signal that the arrested accused are likely mid-tier operatives. The masterminds of the printing operation remain unidentified in public disclosures — and until they are named, the full extent of this network remains unknown.
NationPress
22 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who did the NIA arrest in the Saharanpur PNB fake currency case on 22 October 2026?
The NIA arrested Harish Rounta from Manali, Himachal Pradesh on 22 October 2026. Ajay Kumar had been arrested earlier from Ambala, Haryana on 16 October 2026. Both are described as main conspirators in the counterfeit currency racket.
How much fake currency was found in the PNB Saharanpur currency chest?
Counterfeit Indian currency notes with a face value of ₹17.29 crore were recovered from the PNB currency chest at Civil Lines, Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, following credible information received by police on 29 August 2026.
Were any bank employees involved in the fake currency case?
Yes. The involvement of three PNB employees surfaced during the inquiry, and the bank subsequently suspended all three. The NIA has not yet publicly named the bank employees.
How many people have been arrested in the NIA fake currency case so far?
Seven people have been arrested in total. Five were arrested between 7 and 22 September 2026 — Amit Kumar, Adesh Choudhary, Mukesh Kumar, Rajender, and Nitu. Ajay Kumar and Harish Rounta were the most recent arrests, made in October 2026.
What law was the Saharanpur fake currency case registered under?
The case was initially registered as FIR No. 0431/2026 at Police Station Sadar Bazar, Saharanpur, under Section 178 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023. It was re-registered by the NIA on 3 September 2026 as case RC-02/2026/NIA/LKW.
