Smuggler arrested with fake currency worth ₹2.8 lakh at Shalimar Station, planned to transport to Mumbai

The West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) arrested a 33-year-old smuggler, Soumen Pal, at Shalimar Railway Station on Friday for possessing counterfeit currency. Pal, a resident of Daulatabad in Murshidabad district, was attempting to board a train bound for Mumbai’s Lokmanya Tilak Terminus when STF officials acted on a tip-off and intercepted him. During a thorough search, officers recovered a large amount of fake 500-rupee notes, amounting to a total face value of ₹2.8 lakh. STF SP IPS Indrajit Basu confirmed the arrest on Saturday.

Pal, when questioned, revealed that he had obtained the counterfeit notes from his sources in Murshidabad and was planning to deliver them to his contacts in Mumbai. He intended to exchange the fake currency for a profit. The STF acted swiftly to prevent the smuggling of the counterfeit money, which would have been circulated in Mumbai's markets, exacerbating the issue of fake currency in the region.

A case has been filed at Shalimar GRP Police Station, and investigations are ongoing. Authorities have stated that the operation has led them to suspect a broader network involved in counterfeit currency distribution. STF officials are working to identify other individuals associated with this smuggling ring to prevent further illegal activities.