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A recent incident in Ahmedabad has brought to light a unique case of counterfeit currency involving the image of renowned Bollywood actor Anupam Kher. A bullion trader, Mehul Thakkar, fell victim to a fraudulent transaction involving fake ₹500 notes that featured Kher's face instead of Mahatma Gandhi. This unusual twist to a common crime has garnered widespread attention, prompting a reaction from the actor himself.
Thakkar filed a complaint with the Navrangpura police station on September 24, detailing how he was tricked by suspects posing as legitimate buyers. The suspects, who had a seemingly legitimate business relationship with Thakkar through a jewelry shop manager named Prashant Patel, proposed a deal for 2,100 grams of gold valued at ₹1.6 crore. They offered ₹1.3 crore in cash, promising to pay the remaining ₹30 lakh the next day. However, after handing over the gold, the suspects vanished, leaving Thakkar with a bundle of counterfeit notes.
The police investigation revealed that the suspects had set up a temporary office just two days prior to the transaction. Thakkar's employee, Joshi, delivered the gold to this office and received 26 bundles of cash. The suspects requested Joshi to count the money using a machine while they claimed to be retrieving the remaining amount. It was only after the suspects disappeared that Joshi discovered the notes were fake, featuring Anupam Kher instead of Mahatma Gandhi.
Kher himself expressed his shock and disbelief on social media platform X, formerly Twitter, stating, “My photo instead of Mahatma Gandhi’s on a ₹500 note??? Kuch bhi ho sakta hai (Anything can happen).” He also shared a video report about the recovery of the fake notes, highlighting the unusual nature of the crime.
The police are actively investigating the case, relying on CCTV footage to track the two suspects who remain at large. The Navrangpura police officer described the case as “unique” and emphasized the “Bollywood twist” to the counterfeit currency scheme. Authorities are working diligently to identify and apprehend the culprits responsible for this elaborate fraud.
The incident serves as a stark reminder of the ingenuity and audacity of criminals in the digital age. The use of counterfeit currency featuring a celebrity's image showcases the creativity employed by fraudsters to evade detection. The police investigation will likely focus on the source of the fake notes, the network involved in their production and distribution, and the potential connections to other criminal activities.
Source: Ahmedabad man duped with fake notes featuring Anupam Kher's photo, actor reacts