Sonbhadra, Uttar Pradesh – Police in Sonbhadra district arrested two men, Satish Rai and Pramod Mishra, who were allegedly running a fake currency racket. The duo reportedly used YouTube tutorials to learn how to print counterfeit ₹500 notes on ₹10 stamp papers, circulating fake currency worth ₹30,000 before being apprehended, officials said on Friday.
The suspects, who printed advertisements for mineral water as their main profession, bought stamp papers from Mirzapur, using a computer printer to produce the fake notes. All notes bore the same serial number, but authorities revealed that only someone familiar with detailed security features could detect the forgery.
The police intercepted Rai and Mishra en route to spend another ₹10,000 in fake currency at Ramgarh market. During the arrest, officials seized twenty fake ₹500 notes, along with equipment used in the operation, including an Alto car, a laptop, a printer, and 27 additional stamp papers.
“Unless someone is knowledgeable about currency features, these notes would be hard to identify as fake,” said Additional Superintendent of Police Kalu Singh.
The incident highlights growing concerns over accessible information on digital platforms being misused for illegal activities. Law enforcement agencies have increased their scrutiny of similar activities in the region to prevent further distribution of counterfeit currency.
