NIA Strikes Hard: Raids Across 3 States in Fake Currency Smuggling Case
The NIA conducted searches across three states to bust a Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) smuggling racket, seizing Bangladeshi currency and digital devices.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) launched a massive crackdown on Wednesday, conducting coordinated searches at eight different locations across Bihar, Jharkhand, and West Bengal. The operation is part of an ongoing investigation into a high-stakes Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) recovery case, aimed at dismantling a network involved in the smuggling of counterfeit money.
The Geography of the Crackdown
The NIA's strategic searches were spread across three states to track the movement of the illicit currency. The breakdown of the targeted locations is as follows:
- Bihar: Three locations in Gaya and two in Aurangabad.
- Jharkhand: Two locations in Hazaribagh.
- West Bengal: One location in Malda.
Origins of the Case
The investigation traces back to a significant recovery of Fake Indian Currency Notes with a face value of Rs 2,48,500. This recovery took place within the jurisdiction of the Madanpur Police Station in Aurangabad, Bihar.
Initially, a case was registered at the Madanpur Police Station on August 15 of this year. The local authorities named four individuals as the primary accused in the racket: Surendra Kumar, Vijay Yadav, Ranjan, and Pradeep Saw.
NIA Takes the Reins
Given the nature of the crime and the potential for cross-border links, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued an order for the NIA to intervene. On October 18, the NIA re-registered the case (RC-02/2026/NIA/PAT) and officially took over the investigation to probe the deeper roots of the smuggling operation.
Critical Seizures and Findings
The Wednesday raids have yielded significant evidence that points toward an organized smuggling ring. According to the NIA, the searches resulted in the seizure of:
- Bangladeshi Currency: The presence of foreign currency suggests international links in the smuggling chain.
- Digital Devices: Mobile phones and other electronics likely containing communication logs between the conspirators.
- Incriminating Documents: Papers that may reveal the scale of the operation and other involved parties.
"The investigation conducted so far has revealed that the accused persons in the case were involved in smuggling of FICN," the NIA stated.