Major revelations have emerged in the investigation into the seizure of high-quality counterfeit Indian currency notes in Dadar (West) earlier this year. The probe by Shivaji Park Police Station has uncovered a Bangladesh connection and exposed a supply route through Jharkhand into Mumbai.
During interrogation, the arrested accused and alleged supplier, Josna Bibi alias Josna Serajul Sheikh, who was nabbed near the Bangladesh border adjoining Jharkhand, revealed that counterfeit notes are printed on a large scale in Bangladesh. The fake currency is then transported to Mumbai through various operatives and circulated in local markets.
She further disclosed that Mumbai’s vast market makes it relatively easy to circulate counterfeit currency without immediate detection. Following these revelations, the police have intensified their investigation and launched a search for other accused involved in the racket.
The case first came to light on January 1, 2026, when police arrested Amaruddin Sheikh from the Dadar railway station area with counterfeit notes worth Rs 72,000. Based on leads obtained during his interrogation, the investigation reached Jharkhand. Subsequently, on January 7, 2026, Josna Sheikh was arrested from near the Bangladesh border.
Police investigations revealed that after being printed in Bangladesh, the fake notes were brought to the Santhal Pargana region of Sahibganj district in Jharkhand, which shares close proximity with the Malda and Motipur areas of West Bengal and lies near the Bangladesh border. At the border, Josna allegedly procured counterfeit notes with a face value of Rs 1 lakh for Rs 30,000. She then sold the same to other members of the racket for Rs 50,000, earning a commission of Rs 20,000 per transaction.
The counterfeit notes were transported to Mumbai through different modes of transport and circulated in markets, allegedly with the intent to destabilize the Indian economy. However, the specific markets where the fake notes were circulated have not yet been identified.
Sources said Josna Sheikh had allegedly smuggled and circulated counterfeit currency worth Rs 12–14 lakh over the past two years. The Mumbai Police is currently probing the wider network and its possible international links.
A senior police officer stated that the investigation is ongoing and efforts are underway to trace other accused involved in the racket. More significant revelations are expected in the coming days.
Investigative agencies have also noted a shift in counterfeit currency routes. Earlier, Pakistan-based operators allegedly used the Nepal route to push fake Indian currency into the country. However, recent probes indicate that the Bangladesh border adjoining India’s eastern and northeastern states is now being increasingly used for smuggling counterfeit notes. Border districts in states such as Jharkhand and West Bengal have emerged as vulnerable points in this illegal network.