Fake Rs 500 currency notes with Anupam Kher’s photo instead of Mahatma Gandhi worth Rs 1.6 cr seized in Ahmedabad

Anupam Kher

Two men recently pulled off a shocking scam in Ahmedabad, Gujarat using counterfeit Rs 500 notes featuring Bollywood actor Anupam Kher's face instead of Mahatma Gandhi to deceive a trader.

The incident involved gold worth Rs 1.3 crore, leaving the Bollywood actor in disbelief. Anupam Kher reacted humorously on social media, sharing his shock and surprise. On Instagram, he posted, "Lo ji krlo baat... 500 ke note par Gandhi ji ke jagah meri photo???? Kuch bhi ho skta hai" (Look at this! Oh my! ₹500 notes with my photo instead of Gandhi's? Anything can happen!).

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The bizarre incident unfolded when a trader named Mehul Thakkar sent his employee, Bharat Joshi, to deliver 2,100 grams of gold, worth ₹1.6 crore, to two men as part of a business deal. Thakkar had agreed to the deal after receiving a call from Prashant Patel, a jewellery shop manager with whom he had a trusted relationship.

Patel informed Thakkar that the buyers couldn’t immediately transfer the full amount via RTGS, but offered ₹1.3 crore in cash, promising to transfer the remaining ₹30 lakh the next day.

Joshi delivered the gold to the men at their temporary office in Navrangpura. The men handed over 26 bundles of ₹500 notes and instructed Joshi to count the cash using a machine while they went to fetch the remaining ₹30 lakh. However, upon closer inspection, Joshi discovered the counterfeit notes bore Anupam Kher's image instead of Mahatma Gandhi’s.

By the time Joshi realized the scam, the men had already fled with the gold. Following the incident, Thakkar filed a police complaint at the Navrangpura police station on September 24. The police immediately launched an investigation, reviewing CCTV footage to track down the suspects, who remain at large.

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The police revealed that the culprits had set up the office just two days before the transaction, making it difficult for Joshi or Thakkar to detect any red flags during the deal. While the investigation is ongoing, the audacious use of a Bollywood actor's image on counterfeit currency has added an unusual twist to this already bizarre fraud case.

As the investigation continues, Anupam Kher's lighthearted reaction has gone viral, drawing attention to the incident and leaving people amused by the absurdity of the scam.