The cyber unit of the Maharashtra police has initiated a crackdown on a trend circulating on Instagram, where individuals are posting reels that feature counterfeit Indian currency available at discounted prices, along with their WhatsApp contact information for potential buyers.
Earlier this week, the authorities filed two First Information Reports (FIRs) and facilitated the registration of two additional ones through local police. On Tuesday, they apprehended two suspects, identified as Rahul Anil Pawar and Yogita Bhosale.
This trend, which gained traction in late 2024 and early 2025, appears to be predominantly based in Maharashtra, particularly affecting the districts of Dhule, Jalgaon, and Buldhana.
In March 2025, Priyank Kharge, a leader from the Karnataka Congress, raised concerns about this issue on the social media platform X, tagging Prime Minister Narendra Modi and sharing some of the reels. He questioned the means by which the suspects acquired the printing machines visible in the footage.
Kharge’s post included a critical message regarding the accessibility of counterfeit currency, highlighting the contradiction to the government’s previous demonetization efforts aimed at combating such illicit activities.
The reels in question often feature music from the film “Dhurandhar–The Revenge,” which addresses the issue of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN).
According to an official, the Maharashtra cyber police, which continuously monitors social media, recently became aware of specific Instagram accounts promoting FICN through deceptive and fraudulent content. Initial investigations revealed that these accounts were engaged in posting reels and other inappropriate materials intended to entice users into illegal transactions involving counterfeit currency by promising unrealistic financial gains.
FICN is typically associated with organized crime and other illegal enterprises, including money laundering, terrorism financing, and various economic offenses, as noted by the official.
Moreover, the circulation of counterfeit currency poses a threat not only to financial stability but also to national security, as it may indirectly support anti-national activities, the official emphasized.
Upon discovering this illicit content, police officials identified the involved Instagram accounts and issued notices under Section 79(3)(b) of the Information Technology Act, 2000, demanding the removal of the objectionable material. Additionally, notices were dispatched under Section 94 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita seeking information about the account holders engaged in these offenses.
As a result of the information collected and intelligence gathered, a total of four FIRs have been lodged against Instagram accounts promoting and selling FICN. Two of these reports were filed with the Nodal Cyber Police Station in Maharashtra, while the remaining two were recorded by local police in Buldhana and Jalgaon.
Previously, in December 2024, the cyber security firm CloudSEK had initiated an investigation into this matter, uncovering reels that contained keywords such as “second currency” and “AI note.” They flagged over 4,500 posts, more than 750 social media accounts, and 410 phone numbers implicated in the sale of counterfeit notes between December 26, 2024, and June 26, 2025.
The findings indicated that counterfeit currency worth between ₹5 to ₹8 lakh was being sold for approximately ₹1 lakh in real money. Furthermore, the investigation revealed scams involving payment fraud, where buyers were charged but did not receive FICN, as well as instances of robbery during in-person meetings, and sellers threatening buyers by leveraging local criminal connections.
Mohamed Thaver is a seasoned journalist with specialized expertise in law enforcement and legal matters. With over a decade of experience reporting on crime, he provides readers with insightful and reliable coverage of security and justice issues in Maharashtra.
Thaver has a focused background in law enforcement, policy administration, and the judiciary, enriching his understanding of the criminal justice system from investigation to verdict. His interest in cyber crime and forensics enhances his reporting on modern investigative techniques and their role in complex crime investigations.
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