SAS Nagar: Punjab Police achieved a major breakthrough in its crackdown on organised crime after SAS Nagar Police uncovered an inter-state fake currency racket in Dera Bassi. Officers seized fake and discontinued currency worth ₹9 crore 99 lakh 5 thousand and arrested two suspects involved in the operation.
Senior Superintendent of Police Harmandeep Singh Hans said the action was carried out under the directives of Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann and DGP Gaurav Yadav, who have ordered strict measures against criminal and anti-social networks.
The arrested accused were identified as Sachin, a resident of Bharat Nagar, Pehowa (Kurukshetra), and Gurdeep, a resident of Gurdev Nagar, Kurukshetra (Haryana). Police acted on a tip-off regarding the movement of two suspects linked to an inter-state fake currency syndicate. Special teams were immediately formed under the supervision of SP Rural Manpreet Singh and DSP Dera Bassi Bikramjit Singh Brar.
Teams led by Inspector Sumit Mor (SHO Dera Bassi) and Inspector Malkit Singh (Incharge, Anti-Narcotics Cell) set up a checkpoint near the Ghaggar bridge on the old Ambala-Kalka highway. The suspects were intercepted in a white Scorpio-N (HR-41-M-6974), leading to the recovery of ₹11,05,000 in genuine discontinued currency and ₹9.88 crore in duplicate and film-shooting currency.
Police recovered ₹7,42,000 in old ₹1000 notes, ₹3,50,000 in old ₹2000 notes, and ₹13,000 in new ₹500 notes. The fake or duplicate currency included 80 bundles of old ₹1000 notes (around ₹80 lakh), 60 bundles of new ₹500 notes (around ₹30 lakh), and 439 bundles of ₹2000 notes (around ₹8.78 crore).
Initial interrogation revealed that the accused lured victims by placing genuine notes on the outer layer of bundles while filling the inside with fake notes. They are suspected of defrauding multiple people across Punjab and neighbouring states and already face charges in previous fraud and counterfeit currency cases. An FIR from 2023, involving a ₹7 crore fraud in Mohali, is among the cases registered against them.
A fresh FIR (No. 327 dated 13.11.2025) under Sections 318(4), 178, 179, 180, and 182 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) has been registered at Police Station Dera Bassi. Police said the investigation is ongoing, and more arrests are expected.
