Sonepur police arrested two men and seized fake currency worth Rs 8.47 lakh during a late-night patrol near Block Chhak, exposing a counterfeit note racket operating across western Odisha.
Sub-Inspector Anil Behera and his team stopped a black Scorpio (registration number OD 34 Z 1919) after noticing suspicious movement around 8:30 p.m. Officers found a blue carry bag inside the vehicle containing 1,695 fake Rs 500 notes.
Police identified the accused as Abhilash Purushottam Satapathy and Prashant Das. During questioning, they admitted to collecting counterfeit notes from Bargarh district and distributing them in Sonepur and nearby areas.
Investigators seized the vehicle and the fake notes and produced both men before the local court on Wednesday. Officials said the case remains under investigation to trace the source of the counterfeit currency and other possible links.
The operation marks a major success for Sonepur police in curbing illegal currency circulation. Authorities are now coordinating with neighbouring districts to identify the network behind the fake note supply.
Police emphasised that strict action will continue against those involved in financial crimes and urged citizens to report suspicious transactions.
