Rs 7.4 crore real notes replaced with fake currency at PNB vault in UP
Authorities are reeling after discovering that ₹7.4 crore in actual cash was exchanged for phony currency at a Saharanpur PNB vault. An FIR has been filed against involved bank staff and private citizens. In response to this astonishing theft, a Special Investigation Team has been set up for a thorough investigation.
In Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, a Punjab National Bank (PNB) money vault experienced a fraudulent incident where real currency worth Rs 7.4 crore was swapped with counterfeit notes. Law enforcement has registered a First Information Report (FIR) against bank officials and private individuals, with the Special Investigation Team (SIT) now probing the unusual heist.
The case was initiated by a complaint lodged at the Sadar police station following a report from PNB nodal officer Arun Kumar Chaubey. The FIR singles out senior divisional manager Ravi Kumar, currency chest managers Sushil Sharma and Amit Kumar as the principal suspects.
Further investigation revealed a separate complaint lodged against a housekeeper named Vishal Kumar, concerning a "distinct cash shortfall" at the bank. According to PNB chief deputy manager Nisha Singh, the embezzlement scandal came to light when a cash remittance sent to the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on August 10 revealed a shortage of ₹4.36 lakh. A comprehensive audit conducted by the RBI unveiled the shocking influx of fake currency.
The investigation is ongoing, with the findings expected to be made public once all details and evidence against the involved parties are gathered and verified. The final count of the counterfeit notes is still being checked as counting continues. Saharanpur DIG Abhishek informed, "An SIT has been constituted and an FIR filed against those allegedly involved.
Counting is in progress. Following a detailed inquiry, the embezzled currency will be recovered." Investigators are currently examining bank transaction records, audit ledgers, and CCTV footage from the currency chest to unravel the method used to smuggle in the counterfeit bills and identify all individuals involved in the operation.
Written by urgent.news from Times of India's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
