UP STF, Shravasti Police Bust Alleged Fake Note Gang, Arrest Three

Shravasti police and Uttar Pradesh STF bust counterfeit currency gang, three arrested

Police and the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force have busted an inter-district gang allegedly involved in printing counterfeit Indian currency in Shravasti. A joint team from Sonwa police station and the Uttar Pradesh STF raided a location and arrested three accused while they were allegedly preparing fake notes.

The operation led to the recovery of counterfeit notes worth one lakh 74 thousand rupees. The team also seized a Canon colour printer, ink refills and other equipment allegedly used to print the notes. According to police, the accused were preparing to circulate the counterfeit currency in the market during the Deepavali festival.

The case relates to Giriraj Rice Mill on Malhipur Road in Shravasti district. Police said that on 5 November, the joint team from STF headquarters in Lucknow and Sonwa police station received information from an informer that counterfeit Indian currency was being printed at the rice mill.

After receiving the information, the police team conducted a raid at the location. Three accused were allegedly caught red-handed while preparing the counterfeit notes.

The arrested accused have been identified as Girija Shankar Jaiswal of Bahraich district, Narendra Kumar Chaurasia of the Naveen Modern police station area and Brijendra Goswami of the Ikauna police station area of Shravasti.

According to police, the recovered counterfeit currency included 804 notes in denominations of 100, 200 and 500 rupees. The total value of these notes was one lakh 74 thousand rupees.

The police also recovered a Canon colour printer and four filled printer ink refills from the spot. In addition, the team seized prints of fake notes on 156 A-4 sheets, bond paper, blades, scissors and a steel scale.

Three mobile phones and 5,500 rupees in cash were also recovered during the action. The seized material included the equipment and supplies allegedly used for printing, cutting and preparing the counterfeit notes.

During questioning, the accused reportedly told the police that they had planned to circulate the counterfeit currency in the market during the Deepavali festival. Their alleged plan included using the notes to buy goods from shopkeepers and circulating them among people involved in gambling.

The accused had also allegedly planned to offer three lakh rupees in counterfeit notes in exchange for one lakh rupees in genuine currency. Police said the gang had divided the work among its members.

According to police, one accused was responsible for printing the notes. The other two allegedly handled the cutting of the notes, preparing them into bundles and packing them.

A case has been registered at Sonwa police station under case number 0196/2026. The charges have been filed under Sections 3(5), 318(2), 180, 181 and 182 of the BNS.

Police have arrested all three accused and started further legal action. The investigation is now focused on finding out how many counterfeit notes the gang may have circulated in the market so far.

Police are also examining the districts linked to the gang. The current action is being described as a major success for the police and the STF in their operation against the counterfeit currency trade.