Report: Manmeen Walia, New Delhi
The Delhi Crime Branch has successfully busted a major interstate fake Indian currency racket. During the raid, police recovered around ₹3.24 lakh in counterfeit currency, along with printers, chemicals, printing paper, stamp papers, and other equipment used to print fake notes.
A total of three accused, including the mastermind Vivek Maurya, have been arrested in the operation.
Mastermind: Vivek Maurya — the key operator behind the fake currency racket who designed and printed counterfeit Indian notes using stamp papers and advanced techniques.
Other Accused: Rakesh Arora and Ravi Arora — both played crucial roles in circulating and converting fake notes into genuine currency. Ravi Arora was responsible for exchanging counterfeit notes for real money on commission.
Investigation led byVikram Singh, DCP Crime Branch, under the close supervision of Inspector Ajay Joshi and his dedicated team, whose swift and coordinated action led to the successful bust of this interstate fake currency network.
The gang operated from a rented flat in Vijay Nagar, Delhi, and had links to Shahjahanpur, Uttar Pradesh, from where the interstate network was being run.
Investigations revealed that Vivek Maurya had previously been arrested by Uttar Pradesh Police. During his time in jail, he met Ravi Arora, and together they revived the fake currency business after being released. Vivek Maurya started this illegal business in 2021–22. The gang became more active during the September festive season, when they printed large quantities of fake notes, expecting that shopkeepers in crowded markets would not easily notice the counterfeit bills.
The Crime Branch investigation revealed a highly deceptive and organized method used by the accused to manufacture and circulate counterfeit Indian currency.
🔹 The gang used court stamp papers to print fake notes, as the paper’s texture and thickness closely matched that of real currency.
🔹 To mimic the security thread, they cleverly used green toy stickers, giving the notes a near-authentic appearance.
🔹 They reversed the portrait of Mahatma Gandhi and printed the back side of the note to replicate real currency detailing with precision.
🔹 The counterfeit notes appeared almost identical to genuine ones — the only noticeable difference was a slight variation in color tone, making it difficult for common people to identify.
🔹 These fake notes were mainly circulated at petrol pumps and crowded marketplaces, where cash transactions are frequent and quick.
🔹 The accused printed around 40 counterfeit notes every day, producing nearly ₹6–7 lakh worth of fake notes each month.
🔹 During their stay in a rented flat in Vijay Nagar, Delhi, the gang is believed to have printed up to ₹7 lakh in fake currency. Their suspicious activities prompted the landlord to ask them to vacate the property, which ultimately helped police trace their movements.
Illegal Currency Chain
• Rakesh Arora exchanged ₹10,000 in fake currency for ₹5,000 in real cash.
• Ravi Arora converted fake notes into real ones for a 50% commission.
• One associate, who helped the accused in arranging bail for others, has also been arrested.
DCP Crime Branch Vikram Singh stated that the gang strategically increased production during festivals, knowing that the heavy rush in markets would make fake notes easier to circulate. He added that the raid uncovered significant evidence proving a well-organized and sophisticated operation.
Inspector Ajay Joshi’s team is now focusing on tracing the entire distribution network and identifying other associates involved in the racket.
Legal Action & Further Investigation:
• The arrested accused have been booked under sections related to counterfeit currency, forgery, cheating, and criminal conspiracy.
• The Crime Branch is now tracking the distribution chain of fake currency across Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, and other states.
• The public has been urged to report any suspicious currency notes to the nearest police station or Crime Branch office.
Police officials have advised citizens and traders to stay alert, especially in crowded areas. Any suspicious note should be checked carefully and reported immediately. The difference between real and fake notes may often be too subtle to detect by color alone.
This remarkable operation by the Delhi Police Crime Branch, under the dynamic leadership of DCP Vikram Singh and the dedicated efforts of Inspector Ajay Joshi and his team, deserves high appreciation.
Their strategic planning, swift execution, and relentless pursuit of justice have not only exposed a deep-rooted counterfeit currency network but also prevented the large-scale circulation of fake notes in the market.
Salute to DCP Vikram Singh and the entire Crime Branch team for their outstanding professionalism, teamwork, and unwavering commitment to maintaining law and order in the Capital.
