‘Failed to pay rent, refused to leave’: How landlord’s complaint led to seizure of 1,600 fake Rs 500 notes of more than Rs 37 lakh

NAGPUR: A counterfeit currency network is under scrutiny of multiple investigating agencies after Wathoda police seized 1,600 fake '500 notes of more than '37 lakh from a rented flat at Three Star Society in Chaitanya Nagar on Saturday.What triggered the police raid was a minor tenancy dispute that snowballed into a case of a probable economic terror plot. The seizure of currency notes, a laptop and a printing machine led to state anti-terrorism squad (ATS) and state and central intelligence agencies joining the probe to determine the scale of the operation.Top police officers dashed to the police station as investigators attempted to trace the prime suspect, Pushpam Bhandane, 29, who claimed to be from Trimurti Nagar, but had taken a flat on rent in a Wadhoda locality on September 26 last year.The flat owner Ramesh Harde reportedly grew suspicious of his activities and asked him to vacate the premises. Bhandane did not pay rent for two months and his refusal to vacate prompted the landlord to approach Wathoda police.When a police team reached the apartment, they found the door locked. Attempts by the landlord to contact the tenant received only a brief response, before his mobile phone went dead.Harde subsequently opened the lock with a master key and entered the premises, where they allegedly discovered a printer, laptop and a large quantity of counterfeit '500 notes valued at more than '37 lakh. Some A4 size papers too were traced.Investigators are examining the printing equipment, origin of the currency and the intended channels for circulation. A major focus of the investigation is establishing the suspect's identity. Police are attempting to determine whether Bhandane is his actual name, whether identity documents and credentials furnished by him in the rent agreement are authentic.You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Nagpur | Silver Rate in Nagpur | Bank Holidays in Nagpur | Public Holidays in Nagpur | Petrol Price in Nagpur | Diesel Price in Nagpur | CNG Price in Nagpur | LPG Price in NagpurStay updated with the latest Nagpur news. Download the TOI App.