DRI cracks down on fake currency printing, shuts down 7 modules in 4 states

In a major crackdown on fake currency, the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has dismantled seven printing modules producing fake Indian currency notes (FICN) across Maharashtra, Haryana, Bihar, and Andhra Pradesh, arresting nine individuals, the finance ministry announced today.

“DRI conducted simultaneous searches at 11 different locations across Maharashtra, Haryana, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Bihar yesterday and busted seven additional modules involved in printing FICN,” the ministry added.

In early February, the DRI had nabbed two individuals behind the import of high-quality paper embedded with ‘RBI’ and ‘Bharat’ inscriptions. The arrests took place in Ghazipur, Uttar Pradesh, and Bengaluru, Karnataka. The very next day, DRI raided two facilities, one in Thane, Maharashtra, and the other in Bhiwani, Haryana, where FICN was being printed using imported security paper.

“In the present case, in Vikhroli West, Mumbai, the DRI identified and located the importer,” the finance ministry stated.

The fake currency operation collapsed as authorities unearthed a stash of FICN in ₹50 and ₹100 denominations. Seized items included laptops, printers, pen drives, security paper, A-4-sized papers, and butter paper with a watermark of Mahatma Gandhi.

“Based on the complaint filed by DRI officers, the individual was arrested, and all the apparatus and tools were seized by the jurisdictional police authorities under the Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for further investigation,” the statement added.

The DRI uncovered another fake currency operation in Sangamner and Kolhapur districts, with similar items discovered for printing fake currency. “At both locations, based on complaints filed by DRI officers, the two accused were arrested, and the contraband was seized by the jurisdictional police authorities under BNS for further investigation.”

The fake currency network continued to unravel as interrogation of the Kolhapur module accused led investigators to another printing setup in Belgaum, where three more individuals were arrested. In three other locations—West Godavari district (Andhra Pradesh), Khagaria district (Bihar), and Rohtak (Haryana)—the importers of the security paper were traced.

The statement says a trove of incriminating evidence was discovered, including restricted security paper and printers in West Godavari, while laptops, printers, and restricted security paper were seized in Khagaria district.