The network came under the spotlight during an undercover investigation by Dainik Bhaskar in which a reporter posed as a potential buyer. According to conversations cited in the investigation, an agent identified as Ratul claimed that the network had already supplied counterfeit currency during an earlier Uttar Pradesh election and was preparing for the 2027 Assembly polls.
The agent spoke of a target of around Rs 80 crore in counterfeit currency for the upcoming election. He reportedly claimed that the network could arrange distribution across different constituencies through its contacts and managers. These claims have not been independently verified.
Nepal route shifted to Guwahati
According to the investigation, the network’s operations had earlier used Nepal as a transit point. Increased restrictions in Nepal reportedly made the route more difficult, prompting the network to shift its operations to Guwahati.
Agents described Guwahati as a central storage and distribution point from where counterfeit currency could be sent to different parts of India. A recent seizure of Rs 11.08 lakh in counterfeit currency at Kamakhya Railway Station has also led police to investigate the source and possible network links, although there is no established connection between that seizure and the undercover investigation.
Pakistan-Bangladesh-Guwahati route
During the investigation, agents claimed that counterfeit notes were sourced from Pakistan and China, transported through Bangladesh, and brought into Guwahati.
The route described was:
Pakistan/China → Bangladesh → Guwahati → Other States → Uttar Pradesh
The agents further claimed that counterfeit notes were stored at a Guwahati “chest” before being divided into smaller consignments according to demand.
Network planned state-wide distribution
The investigation claims the operators planned to use people positioned in different states to move the currency. For the Uttar Pradesh election, the agent claimed that managers could be appointed across districts to handle deliveries.
The investigation also alleges that the network discussed disguising consignments and moving them through different transportation routes.
The undercover operation reportedly took a dangerous turn when members of the network suspected the reporter was working for a government agency. According to the investigation, they monitored his movements and discussed killing him.
The reporter later showed Rs 1.5 lakh in cash, after which the agents became more willing to proceed with the proposed transaction.
Investigation claims larger counterfeit network
The allegations come amid continued enforcement against counterfeit currency networks. The NIA has separately been investigating a Rs 17.29-crore counterfeit currency case in Uttar Pradesh, involving circulation through a bank currency chest in Saharanpur. That case is separate from the undercover investigation described above.
The claims made by the undercover sources about the Rs 80-crore election plan, Pakistan-linked supply chain and distribution network require independent investigation and verification by law-enforcement agencies.
