A routine attempt to circulate a counterfeit ₹200 note at a local eatery has led to the busting of an illegal fake currency printing press in Indore. Vigilant staff at a restaurant intercepted the suspect, triggering a follow-up raid by the police that culminated in the arrest of the mastermind and the recovery of counterfeit bills worth ₹44,000 alongside high-end printing machinery.

The operation was spearheaded by the Gandhi Nagar police following an alert from the commercial hub on Thursday.

Vigilant Eatery Staff Foil Circulation Attempt

According to police officials, the breakthrough occurred under the jurisdiction of the Gandhi Nagar police station on June 25. Yashwant Yadav, a resident of Rajnagar, was managing his commercial outlet, Sanwariya Restaurant, when a young customer ordered tea and snacks.

Upon receiving the bill, the customer handed over a ₹200 currency note to settle the payment. Yadav immediately noticed discrepancies in the texture and security features of the paper. Acting quickly, Yadav alongside his staff member, Ashish Chouhan, cornered the customer and alerted the police control room.

A police patrolling unit arrived at the scene and took the suspect into custody.

Singapore Township Raid Exposes Printing Unit

During preliminary on-spot frisking, investigators recovered additional counterfeit notes totaling ₹4,000 from the suspect, identified as Deepak Patel, a resident of Ataheda in the Depalpur area.

During sustained interrogation at the station, Patel cracked and confessed that he was merely a courier. He named Sanjay Vaishnav, a resident of the upscale Singapore Township, as the supplier who handed him the batches to inject into local retail markets.

Seizure Breakdown:

├── Recovered from Courier (Deepak Patel): ₹4,000 in fake notes

└── Recovered from Mastermind (Sanjay Vaishnav): ₹40,000 in fake notes & 1 Printing Machine

Acting on this intelligence, a Gandhi Nagar police team raided Vaishnav’s residential premises in Singapore Township. The raid resulted in the arrest of Vaishnav and the seizure of another ₹40,000 in counterfeit currency notes, along with a specialized printing machine, high-grade paper sheets, and ink cartridges used to replicate legal tender.

Main Accused Has Prior STF Record

A background check on the primary operator revealed a history of economic offenses.

"Our verification indicates that the mastermind, Sanjay Vaishnav, was previously arrested by the Khandwa Special Task Force (STF) in an identical counterfeit currency racket. After being released on bail from prison, he shifted base to Indore and revived the illicit trade," stated Anil Yadav, Gandhi Nagar Town Inspector.

Local intelligence units have been roped in to trace the procurement source of the specialized paper used by the accused. The police have registered a case under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) dealing with counterfeiting currency notes, and both accused have been remanded to police custody for further investigation into their distribution network across neighboring districts.

Indore Police Bust Tata Salt Counterfeit Racket

Man packs cheap Siyaganj salt in branded pouches, sells locally; 1850 kg raw material seized in Aerodrome raid

Raid in Lok Nayak Nagar

Indore police arrested Jitendra Gupta on April 12 in Lok Nayak Nagar under Aerodrome police station limits. Officers caught him red-handed packing fake Tata salt. Sources indicated he sourced cheap loose salt from Siyaganj market and repackaged it in branded pouches for sale in nearby areas.

The operation ran for two months, fooling local buyers with precise mimicking of original packaging.

Seized Fake Packets Galore

Police raided the makeshift unit after a tip-off. They confiscated 840 packets of counterfeit Tata salt and 1850 kg of raw loose salt. Packing materials, including branded polythene and empty pouches, also fell into their hands.

Investigators recovered 980 empty packets, 32 gunny bags, weighing scales, packing and sewing machines, plus a digital balance.

Cheap Salt from Siyaganj

TI Tarun Singh Bhati confirmed Gupta procured open salt from Siyaganj market over the past two-three months. He filled it into Tata-branded pouches that looked identical to genuine ones. "The packaging was so accurate, consumers couldn't spot the difference," Bhati told reporters.

Gupta ran a calculated racket, buying low and selling high for quick profits.

Materials Sourced from Delhi

Probe revealed Gupta ordered branded cut-outs and polythene from Delhi suppliers. He set up a small factory in Lok Nayak Nagar to churn out fakes at scale. Police smashed the entire setup, halting operations instantly.

The seizure exposed a well-oiled supply chain feeding local markets.

Tata's Complaint Triggers Action

Tata Consumer Products Limited's technical expert lodged the FIR. This prompted Aerodrome police to swing into action four hours ago. "We acted on verified intelligence to protect public health," an officer said.

No prior complaints surfaced, but sources pointed to rising fake FMCG cases in Indore.

Health Risks for Consumers

Counterfeit salt poses serious threats, lacking iodisation and purity standards. Buyers in surrounding areas consumed substandard product unknowingly. Public health officials now monitor local sales to prevent wider spread.

Experts warn such rackets undermine trust in branded goods.

Legal Action Underway

Police booked Gupta under relevant IPC sections for cheating and trademark violation. He remains in custody as inquiries continue. Officials probe potential accomplices in Siyaganj and Delhi networks.

Further raids seem likely to dismantle the syndicate.

Future Crackdown Looms

Authorities plan stricter market checks in Indore's wholesale hubs like Siyaganj. Tata officials vow tougher vigilance on duplicates. This latest news today highlights risks in everyday buys, urging consumers to verify packs.