The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested another accused in the case of conspiracy related to the recovery and supply of fake Indian currency from the Punjab National Bank (PNB) currency chest located in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh. NIA has arrested Neetu son Sarfaraz, resident of Haridwar, Uttarakhand.
According to NIA, the arrested accused Neetu is a close associate of the main accused Aadesh Chaudhary and other key accused arrested in the case. The agency suspects that he was involved in a conspiracy to circulate fake notes through currency chests.
Case opened after recovery of fake notes worth Rs 7.29 crore
This matter came to light on 29 August 2026. Sadar Bazar police station of Saharanpur had received information that a large quantity of fake Indian currency was recovered from the currency chest of Punjab National Bank. During the investigation, it came to light that fake notes with face value of Rs 7.29 crore were found. The role of three bank employees of PNB was also revealed in the investigation of the case, after which all three employees were suspended by the bank.
Earlier the case was registered in the local police station
In this case, FIR number 0431/2026 was initially registered on 29 August 2026 in Police Station Sadar Bazar, Saharanpur. This FIR was registered against three accused under Section 178 of the Indian Justice Code (BNS), 2023. After this, the National Investigation Agency took over the case and re-registered it as RC-02/2026/NIA/LKW on 3 September 2026 and started investigation.
Many accused arrested so far
Many arrests have been made so far in the NIA investigation. The agency has earlier arrested the accused Amit Kumar named in the FIR and the key accused in the case, Adesh Chaudhary, Mukesh Kumar and Rajendra. According to NIA, the series of arrests took place on 7, 15 and 20 September 2026.
NIA is busy in finding out the entire conspiracy
NIA is now busy finding out how the fake notes reached the currency chest of Punjab National Bank, who were the people involved in this network and where and in what manner the fake currency was to be circulated further. According to the investigating agency, the investigation of the case is still going on. NIA is making efforts to identify and arrest the remaining co-accused and suspects. The objective of the agency is to expose the entire network related to fake currency and the conspiracy behind it.