Fake currency unit busted in Ramanagara, seven held

Bengaluru South district police have dismantled a counterfeit currency operation running out of an under-construction house in Shantilal Layout, Ramanagara. Seven individuals were arrested on Sunday in connection with the racket, which was reportedly preparing fake ₹200 and ₹500 notes.

The arrested have been identified as Santosh, the house owner from Gejjepura in Magadi taluk, along with Sampath, Govindaraj, Renukaraj, Rajesh, Shivaraj, and Satish. Police seized paper, chemicals, cloth, glass sheets, tables, and other equipment allegedly used in the production process.

According to Bengaluru South Superintendent of Police Rohan Jagadish, the operation involved both local residents and individuals from outside the state. Sampath, a resident of Ramanagara taluk, is suspected to be the mastermind. The group had reportedly been preparing counterfeit notes at the location for about ten days, intending to deliver them to a contact.

Santosh allegedly allowed the use of his under-construction house for two months in exchange for a commission. He later became an active participant after being promised a 7% cut on the value of the counterfeit currency produced.

Mr. Jagadish noted that the production of fake currency involves multiple stages, and the operation uncovered represents only one phase. He indicated that more individuals are likely involved in the wider network.

In a separate seizure, police recovered ten bundles of white paper valued at approximately ₹5 lakh, which had been stocked for the operation. The accused were reportedly applying a chemical coating to the paper and cutting it into currency-note dimensions before transporting the prepared sheets to other locations for final printing.