Contractual worker at centre of ₹17-cr note swap

A contract worker, employed as a driver-loader at a currency chest in Saharanpur, Punjab, is at the center of an investigation into counterfeit currency worth ₹17.29 crore recovered from the facility. The National Investigation Agency (NIA) is examining the worker's assets, financial transactions, and proximity to the manager of the currency chest, who has been suspended by Punjab National Bank (PNB).

The worker, who earns around ₹11,000 per month, may be the effective owner of multiple properties, including houses, SUVs, a sedan, and two motorcycles. Investigators are scrutinizing the timing of asset acquisition, registration details, and the source of funds used for these purchases. While investigators have not established a direct link between the assets and the counterfeit currency, the worker's reported proximity to the suspended manager, Amit Kumar, has prompted further examination of his role.

The worker's duties primarily involved driving and loading, but he allegedly spent considerable time at the currency chest, functioning more like the manager's personal assistant. His lifestyle, despite his modest salary, has also drawn attention, as he reportedly hired another driver at a lower rate. The police have raided the worker's residence in Manakmau, and the recovered documents and materials are being examined.

The asset trail is crucial in reconstructing how the counterfeit currency entered the system, whether fake notes replaced genuine currency, and the subsequent fate of the original cash. The NIA is also exploring potential connections to a larger network, including foreign links, as they attempt to determine how the fake currency entered the system and whether it reached circulation.