Crime
Dawood-linked fake currency syndicate goes local as border routes tighten
New Delhi, April 14: Indian agencies have reported a sharp rise in counterfeit currency seizures, pointing to a renewed push by organised networks to expand operations.
Investigators say the syndicate linked to Dawood Ibrahim, operating from Pakistan, is increasingly directing operatives in India to print fake notes locally instead of relying on cross-border smuggling routes through Pakistan and Bangladesh.
The trend points to a deliberate attempt to scale up production, with signs of a coordinated effort to undermine the Indian economy. Recent months have seen multiple seizures in border regions due to tighter security. At the same time, attempts to drop counterfeit currency using drones are being detected and intercepted with increasing frequency.
An Intelligence Bureau official said that the syndicate is now directing its operatives in India to print fake notes locally and circulate them within the market. They have been advised to keep operations small but frequent to maintain overall volume while avoiding attention.
“To reduce the risk of detection, members are also shifting bases regularly, making it difficult for agencies to track and pin down a single location,” the official added.
The route through the Bangladesh border has also become increasingly difficult for smugglers to use. Enhanced security measures have tightened surveillance, making it harder for operatives to push counterfeit currency into India.
Another official said the strategy now is to expand printing across multiple states, including Gujarat, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Punjab. In the past, the syndicate had set up a localised unit in Malda, West Bengal, where high-quality counterfeit notes were produced and were difficult to detect.
“However, after the unit was uncovered, intensified action by agencies led to a sharp decline in operations,” the official said.
Another official said printing capacity in Malda has dropped by more than half after agencies, including the National Investigation Agency (NIA), intensified investigations and enforcement.
Officials added that efforts are underway to push in raw materials needed to set up fresh units to expand local production. If these consignments reach operatives in India, output could increase again. Even as the focus shifts to domestic printing, attempts to move counterfeit currency across the border using drones are expected to continue.
Last month, the Border Security Force (BSF) and Amritsar Police seized counterfeit currency worth Rs 2.5 lakh, which officials believe may have been a trial run. While drones have been intercepted carrying drugs, arms, and ammunition on several occasions, their use for moving fake currency has emerged as a growing concern.
Agencies said the syndicate is now relying on smaller consignments that are harder to detect on radar and surveillance systems. An official noted that operatives are adopting varied methods to increase the circulation of counterfeit notes.
Even as local production gathers pace, the use of drones is expected to continue. The broader objective, officials said, is to generate funds for terror activities and to inflict economic damage through the sustained circulation of fake currency.
Crime
DRI seizes narcotic drugs valued at Rs 3.41 crore at Pune Railway station

Pune, Aug 26: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has seized suspected narcotic drugs valued at approximately Rs 3.41 crore and arrested a woman passenger at Pune Railway Junction in an intelligence-led operation.
Acting on specific intelligence, officers of the DRI’s Pune Regional Unit, under the Mumbai Zonal Unit, intercepted an Indian woman passenger during the early hours of August 25. The passenger had travelled from Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station in Delhi and was passing through Pune.
Following surveillance based on the intelligence input, DRI officers identified and intercepted the passenger at the railway junction. A detailed search of her baggage led to the recovery of 2,532 grams (gross weight) of a white/yellow-coloured crystalline substance suspected to be amphetamine. Officers also recovered 878 grams (gross weight) of tablets in different colours, suspected to contain 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA).
The total value of the seized substances has been estimated at approximately Rs 3.41 crore.
The suspected narcotic drugs were seized under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985. The passenger was subsequently arrested, and further investigation is underway to determine the source of the drugs, their intended destination and other possible links in the trafficking network.
The seizure highlights the DRI’s continued focus on intelligence-based enforcement against the illicit smuggling and trafficking of narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, said officials.
According to officials, the operation also reinforces efforts to curb the illegal supply of drugs and support the Government’s vision of a Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, aimed at protecting public health and combating drug abuse and trafficking across the country.
Further investigation is underway, and more details may emerge.
Crime
Digital stalker arrested for creating fake Instagram accounts to defame Delhi woman

New Delhi, Aug 26: The Cyber Police Station of Delhi’s North-East District on Wednesday arrested a 27-year-old man for stalking, harassing and defaming a woman by creating multiple fake Instagram accounts in her name and using them to circulate obscene material among her husband and acquaintances.
The accused has been identified as Jeetu Kumar, a resident of New Ashok Nagar in Delhi. Police have also recovered a mobile phone allegedly used in the commission of the offence.
According to police, the case was registered as FIR No. 22/2026 under Section 67A of the Information Technology Act following a complaint by a woman residing in North-East Delhi.
The complainant said that an unidentified person had been repeatedly harassing and mentally torturing her through social media. The accused created fake Instagram accounts using her name and photographs and used the profiles to send obscene videos and images to her husband and other people known to her.
Police said the objective was to defame the woman and subject her to mental harassment and distress.
During the investigation, a dedicated police team led by Inspector Rahul Kumar, SHO of Cyber Police Station, North-East District, along with SI Mohit, HC Sandeep and Ct. Kapil Sharma, conducted a detailed technical investigation and collected vital clues.
The team obtained registration details of the suspected Instagram accounts from Meta. An analysis of the information revealed that the accounts were created and operated using a mobile number registered in the name of Jeetu Kumar.
Acting on the technical leads, the police conducted raids and apprehended the accused. One mobile phone used to create and operate the fake accounts was recovered from his possession.
During sustained interrogation, police said it was revealed that Kumar was known to the victim and had been following her since 2022. He created multiple fake Instagram IDs using the victim’s name and photographs as profile pictures, making it appear as though the accounts belonged to her.
Police further said that the accused used the fake accounts to send pornographic and obscene material to people associated with the victim. Whenever the accounts were reported to Meta and subsequently taken down, he created new accounts and repeated the activity.
The accused has no previous criminal involvement, according to police. Further investigation into the case is underway.
Crime
Police official suspended over case involving Telangana minister’s former OSD

Hyderabad, Aug 25: Inspector of Jubilee Hills Police Station in Hyderabad has been suspended over Forest and Endowments Minister Konda Surekha’s former OSD, N. Sumanth’s case.
Muttu Yadav, the Inspector (Station House Officer) of Jubilee Hills Police Station, faced the action over the alleged delay in filing the First Information Report (FIR) and failure to trace Sumanth.
Police Commissioner V. C. Sajjanar issued orders, suspending the SHO. A departmental inquiry has also been ordered into the handling of the case by the police.
Sumanth remained at large in a case of alleged assault on a real estate businessman. His driver was picked up by police on Sunday.
Sumanth and five others were booked following a complaint filed by the realtor, who alleged that he was assaulted with iron rods and that the accused demanded Rs 10 crore from him.
An attempt to murder case was registered against the former OSD and five others.
A zero FIR was registered against N. Sumanth and five others at Medipally Police Station of Malkajgiri Police Commissionerate last week.
Later, the case was transferred to Jubilee Hills Police Station of Hyderabad Commissionerate.
Gongidi Harikrishna, a resident of Boduppal, lodged a complaint. Harikrishna alleged that he was assaulted with iron rods and sticks and threatened with dire consequences.
The case was registered against former OSD Sumanth, Ramu, Prashanth, Arun Kumar Reddy, Karthik and Mahender Reddy under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The complainant said Sumanth and others assaulted him on July 30.
Harikrishna stated that Sumanth asked him to meet at Ramu’s office. Sumanth allegedly abused him and hit him with an iron rod. On Sumanth’s direction, others also joined the assault.
The complainant claimed that he sustained a fracture to his left hand, bleeding injuries and other injuries and that he underwent surgery on August 10.
The case was registered amid a controversy involving Minister Konda Surekha’s family.
Her daughter Konda Sushmitha’s recent remarks against Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy triggered a storm in the ruling Congress party.
At her mother’s birthday celebrations in Warangal district, Sushmita declared that she would contest from Parkala Assembly constituency in the next elections even if she was denied a party ticket. She also made allegations of corruption against the Chief Minister’s family.
Taking serious note of the allegations, the disciplinary committee of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) issued a show-cause notice to the minister.
Surekha distanced herself from her daughter’s remarks, saying the latter expressed her personal views.
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