New Delhi, September 8, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested Amit Kumar, a bank employee and key accused who had been absconding in connection with the recovery of counterfeit Indian currency worth Rs 17.29 crore from the Punjab National Bank (PNB) currency chest in Uttar Pradesh’s Saharanpur.
Kumar is a named accused in the FIR and was taken into custody as part of the agency’s ongoing investigation into the alleged counterfeit currency conspiracy.
The case dates back to August 29, when police at Sadar Bazar police station received information about the presence of fake currency inside the PNB currency chest. Subsequent checks resulted in the recovery of counterfeit notes with a total face value of Rs 17.29 crore.
The preliminary investigation revealed the alleged involvement of three bank employees, all of whom were suspended by the bank, the NIA said.
An FIR was registered at Sadar Bazar police station on August 29 under Section 178 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, against the three accused.
“Given the seriousness of the offence and the quantum of counterfeit currency involved, the NIA re-registered the case on September 3, 2026, and took over the investigation,” the agency said in a statement.
According to the NIA, Kumar had been absconding since the registration of the case. His arrest is expected to help investigators establish the wider conspiracy behind the alleged storage and circulation of high-value counterfeit notes within a bank currency chest, a facility designated for the secure handling of genuine currency.
The agency said the investigation remains underway, with efforts continuing to identify and arrest other accused persons and uncover the full network involved.
Further details regarding the alleged modus operandi and the individual roles of those involved are expected to emerge as the investigation progresses.
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