‘Printed or Photocopied’ Currency: Bengaluru Ragpicker Discovers ₹25 Crore in Fake US Dollars

In a startling turn of events, Bengaluru ragpicker Salman Sheikh stumbled upon 23 bundles of what initially seemed to be US dollars worth $3 million (Rs 25 Crore) in a garbage pile in Hebbal on November 1. Overwhelmed by the discovery, Sheikh recounted, “I was doing my job, and I suddenly saw this bag at 1 pm. I saw lots of cash. I just fainted. I have never seen so much money. I knew they were not Indian currency.”

Accompanying the counterfeit cash was a letter adorned with the UN seal, stating, “The economic and finance committee puts in place a special fund voted by members of the Security Council to assist the UN peacekeeping forces in South Sudan.” Promptly reporting his find, Sheikh handed over the bundles to his boss Bappa on November 5, who then reached out to social activist Kalimullah.

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Kalimullah, upon learning about the discovery, brought the matter to the attention of the police. Initially suspecting a link to the notorious black dollar scam, where fraudsters promise to double money, investigators later uncovered a different reality. After a meticulous examination, Bengaluru Police confirmed the devastating news – the notes were indeed fake.

Further scrutiny by the Reserve Bank of India revealed that the notes were either “photocopied or printed.” The case has been officially registered, and investigations are underway to trace the source and potential involvement of a counterfeit currency syndicate. The shocking incident serves as a stark reminder of the sophisticated nature of financial scams that continue to plague society.