Telangana man uses YouTube to master fake note printing; Rs 6.78 crore seized

Telangana police are investigating further to establish the full extent of the counterfeit currency racket, trace the absconding accused and identify others who may have been involved in the network.

In Short

• Fake notes worth Rs 6.78 crore seized from rented house
• Prime accused learnt counterfeiting via YouTube and social media
• Gang posed as police to cheat buyers and steal genuine cash

A counterfeit currency manufacturing racket operating from a rented house on the outskirts of Hyderabad has been busted by Telangana police, with four persons arrested and fake notes with a face value of Rs 6.78 crore seized. The prime accused allegedly learnt how to manufacture counterfeit currency by watching YouTube tutorials and other social media content.

The racket was unearthed on November 1 when the Abdullapurmet police, along with the Shadnagar Special Operations Team (SOT), intercepted a car near Ramoji Film City on National Highway 65. Police recovered counterfeit Rs 500 notes worth Rs 8 lakh from the vehicle and arrested its four occupants.

During the subsequent investigation, police traced the operation to a rented house in Kuntloor on the outskirts of Hyderabad, where they allegedly found a counterfeit currency printing unit. A further 134 bundles of fake Rs 500 notes, estimated to be worth around Rs 6.70 crore, were seized from the premises.

The police also recovered printers, scanners, a laptop, a lamination machine and equipment used for cutting currency notes.

YOUTUBE VIDEOS USED TO LEARN NOTE PRINTING

Future City Commissioner of Police Dr Tarun Joshi said the prime accused, identified as Madupoju Karnakar, allegedly learnt the process of manufacturing fake currency by watching YouTube videos and other content on social media.

According to investigators, Karnakar scanned genuine Rs 500 notes and used image-editing software, including Photoshop, to modify the images before printing counterfeit versions.

The accused allegedly planned to circulate the fake notes by offering Rs 3-4 lakh in counterfeit currency in exchange for every Rs 1 lakh in genuine cash. However, when this plan failed to attract buyers, the gang allegedly devised another way to cheat prospective customers.

POSED AS POLICE PERSONNEL TO STEAL GENUINE CASH

Investigators found that the accused allegedly used a combination of genuine currency and fake police identities to gain the confidence of prospective buyers.

They would initially display genuine currency to convince customers of the deal's authenticity. Subsequently, they allegedly posed as police personnel using fake identity cards, walkie-talkies, imitation pistols and vehicles fitted with fake number plates.

The gang would then threaten the prospective buyers and flee with their genuine money, police said.

The accused allegedly cheated two prospective customers of Rs 2 lakh and Rs 3 lakh in separate incidents.

The four arrested accused have been identified as Madupoju Karnakar, Chinnolla Manikya Reddy, Cherukupelly Rathnakar Reddy and Karanam Ajay Kumar. Three other accused are absconding, and efforts are underway to trace them.

- Ends