Connect with us
Saturday,14-February-2026
Breaking News

Crime

As drug net tightens, ISI and D-Syndicate push massive fake currency surge

Published

on

New Delhi, Dec 10: With the Indian agencies cracking down heavily on the narcotics trade, Intelligence Bureau officials have warned about an uptick in the smuggling of fake currency notes. In the past two weeks, several operations have been carried out in various parts of the country in which fake currency rackets have been busted.

The fake currency mafia is controlled by the Dawood Ibrahim syndicate, which is based in Pakistan. While the syndicate is trying to find newer routes and partners to further the narcotics trade, it is also stepping up operations relating to fake Indian currency. The ISI needs funds to resurrect its terror groups, which were largely beaten down during Operation Sindoor.

The fake currency racket had taken a slight backseat for some years, but now there are full-fledged plans to resume operations on a very large scale. Malda in West Bengal remains the main hub for this racket in India. Now with an unfriendly regime in place in Bangladesh, the ISI sees an opportunity to scale up operations.

All the fake currency that is being printed in Pakistan is first routed into Bangladesh. The ISI finds no problem in routing fake notes into Bangladesh, as Islamabad and Dhaka have close ties today. The sea route has been opened up, and the visa process is much simpler for Pakistanis, and this is being taken advantage of by the ISI.

From Bangladesh, the operatives push the fake currency into Malda, following which it is circulated across the country. Officials report that apart from West Bengal, mini modules have been set up in various parts of the country. The notes are transported either from Malda or Murshidabad in West Bengal to the rest of the country.

An official said there has been an increase in such cases, as the ISI and D-Syndicate are pushing it massively. There is a desperate need for funds as the ISI is not only trying to revive terror groups in Pakistan, but is also creating another front in Bangladesh. It wants to engage India on both fronts, and hence the simultaneous push is being made, the official explained.

These gangs operating the racket in India have been coming up with various ways to push fake notes into the market. In Gujarat, a gang that was running a money-doubling scam was busted. It was found that victims were lured into the scheme, and they were given fake Indian currency. This gang was operating mainly in Gujarat and Maharashtra, the probe has revealed.

While the Bangladesh-West Bengal route is the primary one for this racket, there is also a fresh push to smuggle these notes through the UAE into Kerala. Over the years, Kasargod in Kerala has become a major hub for smuggling fake currency notes.

M.B. Moosa, Abdul Rahman, K.M. Hamza, Kallatra Abdul Ha Khader Haji, Irabhim Soopi, K.S. Abdullah, and Kadavath Atta are the ones who have been running this racket. The notes from Pakistan would reach these persons through the UAE route.

Officials say that the Kerala route is one of the hardest to control. There is a huge rush at the airports owing to the number of people visiting the Gulf nations. The ISI has taken advantage of the stress on the security mechanism at these airports in Kerala. Most of the time, these persons get away because the customs formations are understaffed. This makes checking everyone difficult.

Further, the detection has also become very difficult owing to the quality of the notes that are being printed. An Intelligence Bureau official said that the notes are printed in government printing presses in Lahore, Karachi, Quetta, Multan, and Peshawar. These are the same places where the official Pakistani Rupee is also printed. Hence, the quality of the Indian notes being printed in Pakistan is of very superior quality, and this is making detection a challenge, the officer explained.

The gravity of the problem in India, courtesy this fresh push by Dawood and the ISI, can be seen in a report published by the US State Department. “India faces an increasing inflow of high-quality counterfeit currency, which is produced primarily in Pakistan but smuggled to India through multiple international routes. Criminal networks exchange counterfeit currency for genuine notes, which not only facilitates money laundering but also represents a threat to the Indian economy,” the report says.

Crime

Thane Crime Branch Busts Chain And Mobile Snatching Racket, Solves 16 Cases Across Region

Published

on

Thane, Feb 14: In a significant crackdown on street crimes, the Thane Crime Branch has successfully apprehended two suspects involved in a series of chain and mobile snatching incidents. The operation has led to the resolution of at least 16 pending cases across several jurisdictions, including Thane, Bhiwandi, and Pune.

Acting on a tip-off and technical surveillance, a special team led by Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Amarsingh Jadhav initiated a targeted drive against rising street robberies. The investigation led to the arrest of two key suspects:

Ravindra Dhanaji Bhosle (24): Arrested on February 4, 2026, in the Kalyan-Bhiwandi area. Following his interrogation, police recovered 45 grams of gold jewellery valued at approximately ₹3.20 lakh. Bhosle has been linked to 13 cases of chain snatching spanning Bhiwandi, Kalyan, Thane, Ulhasnagar, Karjat Railway, and Pune.

Dinesh Pandurang Chator: Arrested for his involvement in mobile snatching. His apprehension led to the recovery of 21 high-end mobile phones and jewellery, with a total estimated value of ₹8.55 lakh.

The suspects reportedly targeted victims in crowded areas and transit points. DCP Jadhav informed the press that the team utilised a combination of CCTV footage analysis and confidential informant networks to track the duo’s movements.

“This operation is a result of a coordinated effort by our special team. We have successfully recovered stolen property worth over ₹11 lakh and cleared 16 FIRs across multiple police stations,” stated DCP Jadhav.

In a significant breakthrough for regional security, the Thane Crime Branch has successfully resolved 16 cases of chain and mobile snatching. The extensive investigation spanned multiple jurisdictions, including Thane, Bhiwandi, Kalyan, Pune, and Karjat.

This coordinated effort led to the recovery of key assets, including 45 grams of gold and 21 mobile phones, with a total estimated recovery value of approximately ₹11.75 lakh. Following this success, the Thane Police have urged citizens to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activity to local authorities.

Meanwhile, further investigations are currently underway to determine if the apprehended suspects are part of a larger organised criminal syndicate or are linked to additional unsolved cases across the region.

Continue Reading

Crime

Filmy-Style Crackdown In Kalyan: Pune’s ‘Most Wanted’ Nabbed After High Drama In Irani Basti

Published

on

Kalyan, Feb 14: In a dramatic late-night operation reminiscent of a film sequence, a joint police team arrested a Pune-based ‘most wanted’ accused from the densely populated Irani Basti area of Kalyan, triggering tense scenes and commotion in the locality.

The operation was carried out jointly by Unit 2 of the Pimpri Chinchwad Crime Branch and officers from Khadakpada Police Station following specific intelligence inputs.

Acting on credible information that the accused, identified as Mohammad Qamar Irani, was hiding in his native locality in Kalyan after absconding in connection with a serious offence registered in Pune, the crime branch team rushed to the city and coordinated with local police for a swift operation.

Police sources said a strategic cordon was laid around the house in Irani Basti to prevent any escape. However, as soon as the team approached the premises, chaos erupted.

Family members of the accused allegedly attempted to obstruct the arrest. In particular, women relatives reportedly came forward in an attempt to block the police action, leading to a brief but tense stand-off.

Despite resistance, officers maintained restraint and handled the situation tactfully to avoid escalation. After a short confrontation, the accused was successfully taken into custody without any major untoward incident. He was later brought to Khadakpada Police Station for further legal formalities before being handed over to the Pune team.

Officials said the accused has a long criminal record and had been on the run for several days. His arrest is being viewed as a significant breakthrough for the Pune police, who had intensified efforts to track him down.

The swift coordination between the Pimpri Chinchwad Crime Branch and Khadakpada Police Station has drawn appreciation within the department, as the operation culminated in the capture of a key accused who had managed to evade law enforcement until now. Further investigation is underway.

Continue Reading

Crime

Mumbai Crime: Dindoshi Police Arrest History-Sheeter For Cheating SRA Agent Of ₹57 Lakh Using Fake Police Influence Claims

Published

on

Mumbai: The Dindoshi police on Thursday arrested a notorious history-sheeter for allegedly duping an SRA liaisoning agent of Rs 57 lakh since August 2025. The accused, Munaf Abdul Rehman Lambe alias Baba Khan, 45, has been named in 10 extortion and cheating cases registered across Mumbai, the police said.

A police officer said that Khan allegedly fleeced the complainant, Shailesh Santosh, 51, on the pretext of helping him in a case lodged against the latter at the Bandra police station. The officer said the accused contacted Santosh in August 2025, called him to a hotel in Goregaon East and boasted about his “contacts” in the police.

From then onwards till February 9, 2026, Khan took cash, expensive phones and watches worth over Rs 2.4 lakh, totally amounting to Rs 57 lakh.

It was further alleged that when asked to fulfil his promise, Khan threatened to implicate Santosh in false cases and even issued death threats, which prompted him to approach the police.

Continue Reading
Advertisement
Advertisement

Trending