From Mango Orchards to Instagram Deals: How UP Police Cracked a Fake Currency Syndicate
Rampur/Meerut, April 12, 2026 — In a major breakthrough, the Uttar Pradesh Police, in a joint operation with the Special Operations Group (SOG), busted a high-tech counterfeit currency syndicate on Sunday, arresting two men in their 30s.
The accused, identified as Rajvardhan Singh Chauhan and Chirag Saxena, had set up a full-fledged printing operation and were using social media to distribute fake Indian currency notes across the region.
The Crackdown and Arrests
The investigation was triggered following the seizure of fake notes with a face value of ₹10,500 near Bilaspur Gate in Rampur on April 1. Following the trail, the joint team successfully tracked down the two childhood friends.
Chirag was the first to be apprehended near a local mango orchard. Based on the intelligence gathered from him, the police subsequently raided a flat in Meerut’s Chris Green Colony, where they arrested the alleged mastermind, Rajvardhan.
Seizure of a ‘Mini-Mint’
During the raid at the Meerut flat, authorities uncovered a sophisticated setup used specifically for manufacturing counterfeit money.
The police recovered fake currency with a total face value of ₹4.88 lakh. A significant portion of this haul—₹4.46 lakh—was printed in ₹500 denominations. Investigators also found partially printed notes in denominations of ₹500, ₹200, and ₹100.
Alongside the forged cash, the police confiscated the entire manufacturing rig, which included:
A laptop and a desktop system
Multiple high-resolution printers
A lamination machine
Specialized printing ink, foil, and A4 bond paper
Two mobile phones used for illicit transactions
Modus Operandi: Instagram and Couriers
During police interrogation, the suspects revealed their highly organized, modern approach to the illegal trade. A police officer disclosed that Rajvardhan first learned the tricks of the counterfeit trade about a year ago after meeting a stranger on a bus, who subsequently took him to Delhi.
Rajvardhan later roped in his childhood friend, Chirag. The duo bypassed traditional underground networks and instead utilized Instagram to directly contact potential buyers.
“They circulated fake notes through courier services or by calling clients to specific locations and exchanging them for genuine cash,” a police officer stated. The accused also admitted to recently supplying fake notes to two individuals from Rampur shortly after Eid, and efforts are currently underway to trace those buyers.
Inspired by a Web Series?
Adding a dramatic twist to the case, Rampur Superintendent of Police (SP) Somendra Meena revealed that popular media may have played a role in the crime.
“During questioning, the accused said he was inspired by a web series on counterfeit currency. We are verifying this claim,” SP Meena said. He further cautioned that the counterfeit network appears to be much wider than initially thought, and further investigations are actively ongoing to root out remaining syndicate members.
