Ahmedabad: Last week, the Ahmedabad city crime branch busted a major fake Indian currency note (FICN) racket and arrested a Surat-based yoga instructor and six others. Now the probe has widened, as customs department personnel are under scrutiny over the import of specialised paper used to manufacture counterfeit currency.

According to officials, the accused had procured high-grade paper from a supplier in China. The consignments were declared as stationery items, but the sheets closely resembled security-thread-embedded currency paper.

As per the police, the paper already carried RBI-like thread markings. The accused only needed to cut and print on it. Such consignments cannot pass through ports or airports without customs clearance or oversight.

The police had arrested seven persons, including yoga instructor Pradip Jotangiya, after fake ₹500 notes worth ₹2.38 crore were seized from an SUV in Amraiwadi last week. Searches at a residence in Surat later led to the recovery of more counterfeit notes along with printing machines, cutters, and paper stock.

Investigators said the accused planned to circulate the fake currency through land deals and donations at mass marriage events to avoid suspicion and gain social influence. They were also in contact with angadias to distribute the notes.

Police have registered offences related to counterfeiting, forgery, and criminal conspiracy. Further investigation is underway to trace the source of the specialised paper, identify the supply chain, and examine the role of officials who may have facilitated the imports.  DeshGujarat