Police authorities in Dungarpur district of Rajasthan have unraveled an expansive interstate syndicate engaged in printing and circulating counterfeit Indian currency. Drawing inspiration from the popular OTT web series 'Farzi', a group of youths leveraged modern software tools to set up an illicit network spanning multiple northern and central Indian states. Acting under a targeted crackdown titled 'Operation Notflix', police teams tracked down and apprehended six individuals, including the racket's kingpin. Investigators revealed that the operations of this counterfeit network reached beyond Rajasthan into Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Chhattisgarh.
Initial Breakthrough at Mada School Ground
The unraveling of this sophisticated racket commenced on 29 September, when law enforcement received specific intelligence regarding suspicious transactions at the Mada school ground in Dungarpur. Acting swiftly, police personnel intercepted and detained two local residents identified as 23-year-old Bhavesh Khatik and 19-year-old Nayan Joshi. A search led to the recovery of counterfeit Indian currency totaling Rs 4,95,500 in their possession. Detailed questioning of both suspects quickly indicated that they were not solitary offenders, but rather part of a broader distribution chain receiving materials from outside the state.
Designing Currency Using Photoshop and YouTube
Subsequent probe into the operational methods of the syndicate disclosed that the accused relied extensively on online resources, specialized paper, and digital files to print counterfeit notes. The conceptual foundation of the racket was laid by 20-year-old Anand Rajput, a resident of Ambala Cantt in Haryana. According to investigators, Anand conceived the entire plan after watching the web series 'Farzi'. To turn fiction into reality, he studied tutorials on YouTube and utilized photo-editing software like Photoshop to replicate the precise graphical nuances and security features of legitimate currency.
Paper Sourced via Telegram, Digital Templates from Durg
The syndicate functioned through a decentralized supply system across different regions to evade easy detection. For the raw material, the gang turned to encrypted messaging applications. Mohammad Arif, operating from Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh, supplied specialized paper through a dedicated Telegram channel named 'Ankit Paper Seller'. Following a raid, Arif was taken into custody in Kanpur. Meanwhile, the critical high-resolution digital files corresponding to five-hundred-rupee banknotes were arranged by 27-year-old Tarun Malekar, who was tracked down and arrested in Durg, Chhattisgarh. Coordinated police teams carried out simultaneous raids across Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, and Chhattisgarh to snap these supply links.
Kingpin Tracked Across 1,300 Kilometres to Ludhiana
The primary accused, identified as 25-year-old Ravi Kumar Mishra from Pratapgarh in Uttar Pradesh, caught wind of the police action in Dungarpur and went into hiding immediately. Mishra frequently changed his physical hideouts and phone numbers to mislead investigators. However, the cyber cell and specialized units of Dungarpur police maintained continuous technical surveillance on his digital movements. After trailing his path across a distance of roughly 1,300 kilometres, the police squad successfully cornered and arrested Mishra at the Ludhiana railway station in Punjab.
Superintendent of Police Commends Investigation Teams
Superintendent of Police Manish Kumar, who supervised 'Operation Notflix', lauded the relentless coordination exhibited by the cyber cell, special teams, and local police station personnel in busting the interstate gang. He also declared rewards for the officials and officers who took part in executing the coordinated raids and arrests. Police stated that the investigation remains active as authorities seek to determine the total volume of fake currency produced by the group, track the precise commercial channels through which these notes were circulated, and uncover any remaining collaborators associated with the syndicate.
