PNB Currency Chest Driver Arrested: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested another important accused in the case of conspiracy related to counterfeit Indian currency in the currency chest of Punjab National Bank (PNB) located in Saharanpur. The arrested accused has been identified as Aadesh Chaudhary, a resident of New Nandpuri Colony of Qutubsher police station area of Saharanpur. He used to work as a contract driver in the currency chest of PNB. According to NIA, Adesh is one of the main accused involved in this conspiracy.
This case is registered under RC-02/2026/NIA/LKW. This is the second important arrest by NIA after the arrest of accused Amit Kumar, named in the same case, on September 7. In the press release of NIA dated September 7, the arrest of the main accused in the fake note case related to Saharanpur PNB currency chest was also confirmed.
Fake notes worth Rs 17.29 crore were found in the currency chest.
The case began on August 29, 2026, when Sadar Bazar police station of Saharanpur received credible information about the recovery of a large amount of fake Indian currency from the Saharanpur currency chest of PNB. During the investigation, fake Indian notes with face value of about Rs 17.29 crore were recovered.
The role of three employees of the bank was also revealed in the preliminary investigation, after which the bank suspended all three.
Earlier the local police had registered an FIR
In the case, FIR number 0431/2026 was registered in Sadar Bazar police station of Saharanpur on 29 August 2026. The FIR was registered against three accused under Section 178 of the Indian Justice Code (BNS), 2023.
After this, NIA took the case into its own hands considering the aspects related to national security and the seriousness of the conspiracy of counterfeit Indian currency. On September 3, 2026, the NIA re-registered the case as RC-02/2026/NIA/LKW.
Amit Kumar arrested on 7th September
During the investigation, NIA had arrested the accused Amit Kumar named in the FIR on September 7. Now with the arrest of Aadesh Chaudhary, the investigating agency is investigating the presence of fake notes inside the currency chest, their movement and the role of other people involved in this entire conspiracy.
The role of the driver is also under investigation
According to NIA, Aadesh Choudhary was working as a contract driver in PNB Currency Chest and he has been included among the key accused related to this conspiracy. The investigating agency is now trying to find out how the fake notes reached the currency chest, with whose help their movement took place and what was the role of bank employees and outsiders in this network.
NIA has clarified that investigation is going on to uncover the entire conspiracy. The agency is also taking action to identify and arrest the remaining co-accused and suspects. In the official press-release list of NIA, the action taken in this case is recorded on 7th September.