The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested two more accused in connection with the alleged circulation and storage of counterfeit Indian currency notes with a face value of ₹17.29 crore at a Punjab National Bank (PNB) currency chest in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
The latest arrests involve Mukesh Kumar and Rajendra Kumar, who were taken into custody as the agency continues its investigation into the larger conspiracy behind the presence of the counterfeit notes at the bank’s currency chest. With these arrests, the number of people arrested in the case has risen to four.
Editorial Insight
Key Highlights
Important points readers should notice.
Issue/Event: NIA arrests two more accused in a ₹17.29 crore counterfeit currency case.
Location: Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
Authority/Organisation: National Investigation Agency (NIA).
Action Taken: Mukesh Kumar and Rajendra Kumar arrested during the ongoing investigation.
Impact: Total arrests in the case have reached four as investigators trace the source and alleged distribution network of the counterfeit currency.
The case came to light on August 29, 2026, after counterfeit Indian currency notes with a face value of ₹17.29 crore were detected at the PNB currency chest in Saharanpur. The initial investigation was conducted by local police before the NIA took over the case and registered it at its Lucknow unit on September 3.
The NIA had earlier arrested PNB official Amit Kumar on September 7 and contractual driver Adesh Choudhary on September 16. The agency is investigating how the counterfeit notes reached the currency chest and is examining the alleged roles of people connected with the handling and movement of the cash.
The latest arrests mark another step in the investigation as the agency works to establish the source of the counterfeit currency, trace its movement and identify other people who may have been involved in the alleged conspiracy.
Editorial Analysis
Why This Matters
The case involves a substantial quantity of suspected counterfeit Indian currency allegedly found inside a bank currency chest, raising questions about how the notes entered the facility and how the wider network operated.
