Punjab Police bust fake currency module in Malerkotla; four arrested
Synopsis
Punjab's Counter Intelligence unit in Malerkotla has cracked a fake currency ring, netting four accused and ₹5.50 lakh in counterfeit ₹500 notes in a two-phase operation. In a separate strike the same day, two operatives of a transnational terror-gangster nexus were arrested with three illegal pistols — underscoring the breadth of Punjab Police's ongoing crackdown on organised crime.
Key Takeaways
Punjab Police's Counter Intelligence unit in Malerkotla busted a fake currency module on 18 May , arresting four individuals .
Counterfeit notes worth ₹5.50 lakh — all in ₹500 denomination — were recovered across two phases of the operation.
Accused Raj Mohammad has a prior criminal record, with an FIR under the NDPS Act against him.
In a separate operation, Counter Intelligence Punjab arrested two operatives of a transnational terror-gangster nexus from Phillaur, Jalandhar , recovering three illegal pistols and 11 cartridges .
DGP Gaurav Yadav confirmed further investigation is underway to map the full network; more arrests are expected.
Punjab Police's Counter Intelligence unit in Malerkotla has dismantled a fake currency module, arresting four individuals and recovering counterfeit notes worth ₹5.50 lakh — all in ₹500 denomination — in an operation announced on Monday, 18 May. Director General of Police (DGP) Gaurav Yadav confirmed the arrests, describing the bust as a significant blow to the circulation of fake Indian currency in the region.
Who Was Arrested
The four accused have been identified as Nazar Khan, a resident of Malerkotla; Raj Mohammad, a resident of Dhuri in Sangrur; Mukhtiyar Singh, alias Gurjit Singh, a resident of Jind in Haryana; and Asif Ali, also a resident of Malerkotla. Preliminary investigation has revealed that Raj Mohammad already carries a criminal record, with one First Information Report (FIR) registered against him under the NDPS Act.
How the Operation Unfolded
Assistant Inspector General (Patiala) Simrat Kaur shared the operational details, stating that in the first phase of the operation, Nazar Khan and Raj Mohammad were apprehended and ₹4 lakh in counterfeit notes was recovered from their possession. Further investigation led to the arrest of Mukhtiyar Singh and Asif Ali, from whom an additional ₹1.5 lakh in fake currency was seized. AIG Kaur indicated that more arrests and recoveries are likely as the investigation progresses.
Terror-Gangster Nexus Also Busted
In a separate but concurrent operation, Counter Intelligence Punjab dismantled a transnational terror-gangster nexus, arresting two operatives identified as Anuraj, alias Gaurav Masih, and Ankush — both residents of Phillaur in Jalandhar. Three illegal pistols — two .30 bore and one .315 bore — along with 11 cartridges were recovered from their possession. Ankush is a habitual offender, previously booked under an attempt-to-murder case registered in Goraya.
Investigation and What Comes Next
DGP Yadav stated that further investigation is underway to establish the full network linkages of the fake currency module. This comes amid Punjab Police's sustained crackdown on organised crime and cross-border criminal networks, with the Counter Intelligence unit playing a central role in recent operations. The recovery of fake ₹500 notes is particularly significant given the denomination's widespread use in daily transactions.
Point of View
Sangrur, and Haryana's Jind district — suggesting this was not a localised racket but part of a wider distribution chain. The presence of a prior NDPS offender in the network points to the familiar overlap between drug and counterfeit currency trafficking in Punjab. That the same Counter Intelligence unit simultaneously rolled up a terror-gangster nexus on the same day signals operational tempo, but also raises the question of whether these networks are connected. DGP Yadav's acknowledgement that linkages are still being probed is the most important line in the entire announcement.
NationPress
6 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Punjab Police recover in the Malerkotla fake currency bust?
Punjab Police recovered counterfeit currency worth ₹5.50 lakh, all in ₹500 denomination, from four arrested accused. The recovery was made in two phases — ₹4 lakh from the first two suspects and ₹1.5 lakh from the next two.
Who are the four accused arrested in the Punjab fake currency case?
The four accused are Nazar Khan and Asif Ali, both residents of Malerkotla; Raj Mohammad, a resident of Dhuri in Sangrur; and Mukhtiyar Singh, alias Gurjit Singh, a resident of Jind in Haryana. Raj Mohammad reportedly has a prior FIR under the NDPS Act.
What is the Counter Intelligence unit in Malerkotla?
It is a specialised unit of Punjab Police's Counter Intelligence wing, based in Malerkotla, that focuses on organised crime, terror networks, and related criminal modules. It operates under the broader Counter Intelligence Patiala structure.
Were any weapons seized in the related Punjab Police operation?
Yes, in a separate operation, Counter Intelligence Punjab arrested two operatives of a transnational terror-gangster nexus from Phillaur in Jalandhar and seized three illegal pistols — two .30 bore and one .315 bore — along with 11 cartridges.
What happens next in the fake currency investigation?
DGP Gaurav Yadav has confirmed that investigation is ongoing to establish the full network linkages of the fake currency module. AIG Simrat Kaur indicated more arrests and recoveries are expected as the probe advances.
