New Delhi, September 23 (TNA) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has arrested a sixth individual in connection with a widening conspiracy to circulate counterfeit currency through the Punjab National Bank (PNB) currency chest in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh, the agency said in a press release issued Tuesday.
The latest arrestee, Nitu, son of Sarafraj, is a resident of Village Kunja Bahadurpur, Iqbalpur, under Bhagwanpur police station in Uttarakhand's Haridwar district. According to the NIA, Nitu is a close associate of key accused Adesh Choudhary and other principal figures in the case.
How the case unfolded
The conspiracy came to light on August 29, 2026, when Sadar Bazar police station in Saharanpur received credible information about counterfeit Indian currency notes worth Rs 7.29 crore recovered from the PNB currency chest in the city. Three bank employees were found to be involved and were subsequently suspended by the bank.
Police initially registered the case as FIR No. 0431/2026 on August 29, 2026, at PS Sadar Bazar, Saharanpur, under Section 178 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, against three accused. The NIA subsequently took over the investigation, re-registering it as case RC-2/2026/NIA/LKW on September 3, 2026.
A string of arrests
Tuesday's arrest is the latest in a series of detentions the NIA has made over the past two weeks:
September 7: Amit Kumar, named in the original FIR
September 15/16: Adesh Choudhary, described as a key accused and a contractual driver attached to the PNB currency chest, arrested from Gangoh Road in New Nandpuri Colony under Qutub Sher police station in Manak Mau, Saharanpur
September 20: Two more accused-Mukesh Kumar, son of Som Prakash, from Village Hasanpur Kadeem, Manoharpur, and Rajendra Kumar, son of Pyare Lal, from Village Kalyanpur, Sarsawa — both described as close associates of Choudhary
September 22: Nitu, the most recent arrest
Investigation ongoing
The NIA said the probe is continuing "to uncover the complete conspiracy and to arrest the remaining co-accused persons and suspects," signalling that further arrests are likely as investigators work to map the full extent of the currency chest network.