Fake ₹1.4 lakh seized from Bengal man posing as doctor:Used UK-series number, probe into possible extremist links

The Bhopal police have arrested a 27-year-old man from West Bengal and seized 280 counterfeit Rs 500 notes with a face value of Rs 1.4 lakh from his possession, officials said on Thursday. Police said the accused, identified as Saiful Islam, claimed to be an MBBS doctor. An iPhone, a pen drive and details linked to a foreign series mobile number beginning with +44 were also recovered during the operation. Investigators suspect the accused may have links to a particular ideological network. He was produced before a court and remanded to seven days in police custody for further interrogation. The operation was carried out on Wednesday afternoon by the Koh-e-Fiza police, though details were disclosed publicly a day later. Held near Saifia College Ground after tip-off Koh-e-Fiza police station in-charge KG Shukla said the police received information that a youth was searching for customers near Saifia College Ground to circulate fake currency at discounted rates. A police team cordoned off the area and detained the suspect. During questioning, the accused told police that he had sourced the counterfeit notes from a friend in West Bengal. ‘Active in fake currency trade since 2024’ According to police, the accused said he had been involved in the counterfeit currency trade since 2024 and had visited Bhopal twice earlier to circulate fake notes. Police said he had been living in a rented accommodation in Gulmohar Colony since May 2025 and had also married during this period. During interrogation, he allegedly told investigators that he had purchased counterfeit currency with a face value of Rs 2 lakh for Rs 60,000 and had already circulated fake notes worth around Rs 60,000 in the city over the past 10 days. Used to exchange fake Rs 500 note for Rs 300 genuine cash Police said the accused would allegedly collect Rs 300 in genuine currency and hand over a counterfeit Rs 500 note in return. Investigators quoted him as saying that he entered the trade to earn money quickly without working hard. Pakistan-Nepal paper angle under probe Police said the seized notes appeared to be printed on paper similar to that used in Pakistan and Nepal, prompting investigators to examine possible interstate and international links. Officials also said preliminary findings suggest the accused had communicated with foreign numbers and may have been involved in supplying fake bank accounts to cyber fraudsters. Police said further interrogation is underway to identify other members of the network and trace possible interstate and international connections.