Gujarat yoga guru, disciples arrested with Rs 2 cr in counterfeit currency; AI used to design fake notes

On Thursday, the Ahmedabad DCB conducted raids at the Shree Satyam Yog Foundation in Surat

• Seven held in Ahmedabad for Rs 2.38 crore fake currency scam
• Fake Rs 500 notes, printing machines, and inks seized in raids
• AI tools and ChatGPT used to refine counterfeit note designs

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The Ahmedabad Detection of Crime Branch (DCB) has arrested seven individuals, including Surat-based self-styled godman Pradeep Jotangiya (Pradeepji), in connection with a counterfeit currency racket. Fake Rs 500 notes with a total face value of Rs 2.38 crore were recovered from a vehicle intercepted in the Amraiwadi area of Ahmedabad and from locations in Surat, according to a report by The Indian Express.

Police stated that six of the accused, including Jotangiya, were apprehended in Ahmedabad on Wednesday, with fake Indian currency notes (FICN) worth over Rs 2 crore seized from a car. As per the Indian Express report, during questioning, the suspects revealed that the FICN had been brought from the Shree Satyam Yog Foundation (Dham) at Kamrej in Surat.

The Ahmedabad DCB shared the information with the Surat crime branch and directed them to maintain surveillance on the ashram and the residence of one of Jotangiya’s close aides.

The arrested persons have been identified as Pradeep Jotangiya (Pradeepji), Mukesh Thummar, Rameshbhai, Bharat Kakadiya, Ashok Mavani, Ramesh Balar, Divyesh Rana, and one woman.

On Thursday, the Ahmedabad DCB conducted raids at the Shree Satyam Yog Foundation in Surat and at Mukesh Thummar’s residence.

During the operation, one Bharatbhai Kakadiya, also known as Bharat Patel, was taken into custody. Officials seized FICN worth Rs 28 lakh in Rs 500 denominations, in addition to blank papers, printing machines, colour inks, and other materials used for producing counterfeit notes.

According to police, Jotangiya, who operates the foundation in Surat, was among the prominent figures in the group, with the others referring to themselves as his followers.

A Deccan Herald report states that the suspects looked up on the internet and bought the necessary equipments to produce counterfeit notes, including colour printers, cartridges, paper cutters and specialised printing paper.

After discovering that the quality of the paper was insufficient, accused Mukesh Thummar reportedly searched online and allegedly procured security-thread paper from China. The group then produced the counterfeit notes and brought them to Ahmedabad to sell, where they were apprehended by authorities.

"It was revealed that digital tools including photo-editing software and AI-based platforms such as ChatGPT were used to refine the design, layout, and visual features of counterfeit notes," Ajit Rajian, deputy commissioner of police, DCB, was quoted in the report.