{
  "id": 13062160,
  "title": "NIA, others raid 11 premises over narcotics and fake currency syndicate case in Bihar's Madhubani",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/nia-others-raid-11-premises-over-narcotics-and-fake-currency",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-09T07:00:45.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Hindustan Times",
    "slug": "hindustan-times",
    "url": "https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/nia-others-raid-11-premises-over-narcotics-and-fake-currency-syndicate-case-in-bihars-madhubani-101791523495784.html"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Madhubani district of Bihar, India, multiple central agencies including the National Investigation Agency (NIA) conducted raids on 11 premises on Thursday. The operation targeted an alleged syndicate involved in the smuggling of counterfeit currency and narcotics, led by 60-year-old Hira Mahaseth, known as Chachi, and her husband Bharat Mahaseth. The raids took place at Basopatti and Jaynagar police stations, with assistance from local police and Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) personnel. All 11 locations, including a grocery store and warehouses, were sealed following a court order. Hira is believed to be a key figure in a network trafficking counterfeit notes and narcotic substances, with connections extending to Kathmandu, Nepal. She was arrested on September 14 on charges related to smuggling FICN, liquor, and narcotics, while her husband was arrested earlier on August 22 for possessing counterfeit currency. The NIA has intensified its action against the syndicate over the past one and a half months, with several local businessmen linked to Hira being monitored. Police sources revealed that Hira's associates, Krishna Thakur and Vinod Sahani, were working for her syndicate with the help of local police. Vinod Sahani was arrested by the STF with a large quantity of ganja, leading to the suspension of the SHO of Basopatti police station and the registration of an FIR against a Dial 112 police team. The Nepal Police recently seized 2,500 kg of ganja from a truck in Sunsari district, linked to a member of the Hira syndicate. Madhubani SP Yogendra Kumar stated that many properties of Hira Mahaseth were traced along the Indo-Nepal border, which is under investigation. However, the NIA has not yet released an official statement on the recoveries from Thursday's searches.",
  "summary": "The raided premises were associated with 60-year-old Hira Mahaseth, popularly known as Chachi, and her husband, Bharat Mahaseth.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}