Gujarat : Fake Rs.500 Note Factory Busted in Vapi

Valsad | Gujarat — In a major crackdown on economic crime, Vapi police have unearthed a fake currency printing factory operating quietly in the industrial city, exposing a racket driven by greed and the lure of easy money. Acting on a precise tip-off, police raided a concealed location and seized a large cache of counterfeit ₹500 notes along with high-end printing equipment, foiling an attempt to circulate fake currency in the market.

During the operation, officers recovered 1,215 counterfeit ₹500 notes, taking the total face value of the fake currency to ₹6.07 lakh. The raid also led to the seizure of a colour printer, special paper, ink and other materials used to replicate Indian currency notes. Two key accused identified as Sanjay Pawar and Chayadevi Sudesh Mandal–both residents of Chala in Vapi town– were arrested from the spot, while further investigations are underway to trace the wider network behind the operation.

Police officials revealed that the accused were running an elaborate “money-doubling” con to trap unsuspecting people. “The gang promised ₹80 lakh in return for ₹30 lakh in genuine currency, claiming the notes looked exactly like real ones and could be easily passed in the market,” a senior police officer said. “Their aim was to collect real cash and dump counterfeit notes on the victims.”

Investigators said the fake notes were designed to closely resemble genuine currency, raising serious concerns about their potential circulation. “Had this racket gone unnoticed, it could have caused financial losses to the public and harmed the credibility of the currency system,” an officer added.

The police are now probing where the counterfeit notes were intended to be supplied and whether similar fake currency units are operating in nearby industrial belts. Authorities are also verifying if the accused have links with larger interstate counterfeit networks.

Vapi police have issued a strong warning to citizens against falling prey to schemes that promise unrealistic returns. “There is no shortcut to wealth. Anyone offering to double or multiply money is trying to cheat you,” an official said, urging people to report suspicious financial offers or activities immediately.