Vapi Shocker: Massive ₹500 Fake Currency Racket Busted in Hariya Park; 2 Jailed After ₹30 Lakh ‘Black Paper’ Scam
Breaking News: A sensational and highly sophisticated fake currency racket has been unearthed in the heart of Gujarat’s industrial hub, Vapi.
The Valsad Local Crime Branch (LCB) has successfully busted a massive operation where counterfeit ₹500 currency notes were being printed inside a residential flat.
The operation, which was running clandestinely in the Hariya Park area of Dungra, Vapi, has sent shockwaves throughout the South Gujarat region due to the audacious method used by the criminals.
The accused were found to be printing four fake notes of ₹500 denomination on a single sheet of A4 size paper, using high-end technology to mimic the original currency.
LCB Raids “Mint” in Residential Flat
Acting on specific intelligence, the Valsad District LCB team launched a surprise raid on a flat located in Hariya Park, Dungra. The police had received secret information that a counterfeiting unit was active in the residential complex.
Upon entering the premises, the police team was stunned to find a fully functional “factory” for printing fake notes. The setup was designed to produce high volumes of counterfeit currency without raising suspicion among neighbors.
The raid revealed the presence of high-quality color printers, special dyes, and stacks of paper, confirming that the flat was being used exclusively for this illegal activity.
The Modus Operandi: A4 Paper to Currency
The police investigation has unveiled the shocking simplicity yet “shatir” (cunning) nature of the crime. The accused did not use industrial machinery but relied on accessible technology to run this Vapi fake currency racket.
According to LCB officials, the accused used standard A4 size white paper—commonly found in Xerox shops—to print the notes. They had configured their printers to fit exactly four notes of ₹500 on a single sheet.
During the search operation, the police seized a staggering 1,215 sheets of paper that had already been printed with fake ₹500 notes. If cut and circulated, the face value of these notes would have amounted to lakhs of rupees, posing a severe threat to the local economy.
The Greed Trap: 30 Lakhs for 80 Lakhs
Behind this criminal enterprise lies a story that resembles a Bollywood thriller, filled with greed, deception, and a “double-cross.” The entire scam was orchestrated to loot a local labor contractor.
The investigation revealed that Chhayadevi Suresh Mandal (40), a labor contractor residing in Bhadakmora, Vapi, was the primary target—and eventually a partner in crime.
The masterminds, identified as Sanjay Somnath Pawar (a resident of Chanod, Vapi) and his brother-in-law Dilip, trapped Chhayadevi with a lucrative but illegal offer.
They introduced her to a woman named Swati from Andhra Pradesh and an unidentified youth. The gang convinced Chhayadevi that if she invested ₹30 lakhs in cash, they would return ₹80 lakhs to her using their counterfeit note technology.
Funding the Crime: The Investment Phases
Blinded by the lure of easy money, Chhayadevi agreed to the deal. She not only provided the capital but also handed over her own flat in Hariya Park to the gang to set up the printing press.
The accused extracted the money from her in stages. Initially, they demanded ₹10 lakhs under the pretext of purchasing high-quality color printers, specific paper, and “special chemicals” required for printing the Vapi fake currency.
Once the setup was complete, they demanded another ₹20 lakhs in cash to “scale up” the operation. In total, Chhayadevi handed over ₹30 lakhs of her hard-earned money to the fraudsters, expecting a massive return that never existed.
The “Maharashtra Border” Excuse
After collecting the full amount of ₹30 lakhs, Sanjay Pawar and his accomplices began their actual game of deception. To make the operation look legitimate to Chhayadevi, they stacked bundles of paper in the flat.
However, when Chhayadevi began asking for her share of the money, Sanjay Pawar stalled. He concocted a story that a critical “note-cutting machine” had been seized by authorities at the Maharashtra border.
He claimed that without this machine, the printed notes on the A4 sheets could not be cut to size, and therefore, the work was temporarily halted. This was a delay tactic to keep the victim pacified while they secured the loot.
The “Chemical” Con and Black Paper Bundles
The climax of the fraud occurred on January 8, 2025. To keep Chhayadevi in the dark, Sanjay Pawar executed a classic “Black Dollar” style scam.
He handed over the keys to the flat to Chhayadevi and told her, “Your ₹80 lakhs in ₹500 denominations are ready. The bundles are kept in the room.” However, he added a strict condition.
He warned her that a “special chemical” had been applied to the notes to preserve them. He instructed her not to open the bundles for three days, claiming that exposure to air would turn the notes black and ruin them.
The Shocking Discovery
Trusting her partners, Chhayadevi waited anxiously for three days. However, when Swati (the woman from Andhra Pradesh) and the other accomplices stopped responding and did not return, suspicion grew.
unable to wait any longer, Chhayadevi went to the flat and opened the bundles. The ground slipped from beneath her feet. Inside the bundles, there was no currency.
Instead of ₹80 lakhs in cash, she found only bundles of plain black paper. The realization hit her hard: she had been cheated out of ₹30 lakhs in a desperate bid to earn illegal profit.
From Victim to Accused: The Legal Twist
Following the discovery of the fraud, the matter reached the Valsad LCB. However, the law does not distinguish between the cheater and the person funding the crime.
Since Chhayadevi had knowingly provided her flat and funds for the purpose of printing fake currency, she was booked as a co-accused in the crime.
The police arrested both the mastermind, Sanjay Somnath Pawar, and the facilitator, Chhayadevi Suresh Mandal. They were produced before the court, where the police secured a two-day remand to interrogate them further.
Sent to Navsari Sub-Jail
After the completion of their remand period, the court ordered both accused to be sent to judicial custody. They have now been lodged in the Navsari Sub-Jail.
The police have seized the printers, the A4 paper stock, and the black paper bundles used to deceive the contractor. The “factory” in Hariya Park has been dismantled.
This incident serves as a stern warning: those who invest in illegal activities in hopes of doubling their money often end up losing their capital and their freedom.
Manhunt for Absconding Kingpins
While two arrests have been made, the police investigation is far from over. The Valsad LCB is currently conducting a rigorous manhunt for the remaining members of the gang.
The search is on for Swati (the woman from Andhra Pradesh), Dilip (Sanjay’s brother-in-law), and the unidentified youth who were instrumental in executing the scam.
Police suspect that this gang may be operating on an inter-state level, given the involvement of suspects from Andhra Pradesh and the reference to Maharashtra.
Depth of the Network in Vapi
Vapi, being a major commercial center with daily cash transactions running into crores, is a prime target for fake currency circulators.
The police are now investigating a critical angle: Have any of these notes already entered the market?
Since the notes were printed on A4 paper with high precision, they could potentially fool the average citizen. The LCB is probing how many notes might have been circulated before the raid.
This scandal has alerted the entire business community in Vapi. Traders and citizens are being urged to be extra vigilant while accepting ₹500 notes.
Conclusion: Greed Leads to Bars
The case of the Vapi fake currency scam is a tragic example of how greed can destroy lives. Chhayadevi Mandal, a labor contractor, is now sitting in jail because she wanted to turn 30 lakhs into 80 lakhs through illegal means.
On the other hand, fraudsters like Sanjay Pawar continue to threaten the nation’s economy by printing counterfeit notes on simple paper. Thanks to the alertness of the Valsad Police, a major economic offense has been halted.
The police investigation continues, and more names are expected to tumble out as the hunt for the absconders intensifies.
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