Sangli : In a major crackdown, Sangli Police have busted a massive fake currency racket and arrested five people, including a Kolhapur police constable, who was the alleged mastermind behind the operation. Officials seized ₹99.23 lakh in counterfeit ₹200 and ₹500 notes, along with printing machines and materials used for producing fake currency.
The main accused, Ibrar Inamdar, worked in the Motor Transport Department of Kolhapur Police. According to investigators, Inamdar operated a secret printing unit hidden inside a tea shop in Kolhapur’s Ruikar Colony, where fake notes were printed and circulated across Maharashtra, including Mumbai and Pune.
The scam came to light after police detained a suspect in Miraj for trying to sell counterfeit notes worth ₹42,000. His confession led investigators to the printing setup and eventually to the entire network.
During a follow-up raid on the Sangli–Pune–Bengaluru highway near Kasegaon, police intercepted an Innova vehicle carrying ₹99.23 lakh in fake currency.
Those arrested have been identified as:
Ibrar Inamdar – Police constable, alleged mastermind
Suprit Desai – Kolhapur
Rahul Jadhav – Kolhapur
Narendra Shinde – Kolhapur
Siddhesh Mhatre – Mumbai
Investigators revealed that the gang lured people by offering three counterfeit ₹500 notes for every genuine ₹500 note, rapidly expanding the fake note circulation.
All five accused are currently in police custody till October 13, while further investigation continues to trace other possible links in the racket.
