Are your 20 rupee coins real? How Police unravelled a multi-city counterfeit scam

A counterfeit coin is an unauthorized imitation of official currency. It may copy the denomination, shape, markings and appearance of a genuine coin, but it is not produced through the government’s approved minting system. That difference matters because currency depends on public confidence and legal authorization.

In this case, police alleged that the group made fake Rs 20 coins from coin-sized aluminium, copper and nickel rings. They used specially ordered dies replicating Rs 20 coins, then pressed the dies onto the rings and refined the pieces with heavy machines. Police recovered 6,400 finished counterfeit coins and semi-finished coins.

Genuine coins are minted by the Government of India at units in Mumbai, Kolkata, Noida and Hyderabad. The article does not provide a technical test distinguishing each seized coin from a genuine one. It reports that the accused refined their process to make the coins resemble genuine currency, and that police are still verifying the group’s circulation claims.

The Saharanpur Police recovered six heavy machines, 6,400 counterfeit Rs 20 coins, semi-finished coins worth an estimated Rs 5 lakh, and equipment used in production. The seizure exposed a unit that had been presented as a screwdriver-manufacturing operation. The discovery mattered because the machinery was being moved to avoid a possible police raid.

An informer told police that three suspicious men were seeking about 500 square feet for six heavy machines. Police intercepted Upkar Luthra, Himanshu and Kuldeep in the Titron area. Two associates, Santosh Chaurasia and Anurag Pal, were then apprehended near a crossing in separate vehicles. The vehicles contained the machinery and other evidence.

Police found 39 unmarked dies, 20 marked dies, a die-polishing machine, grinding stones, brushes, files, hammers and other tools. Investigators learned that the Sonipat premises had been used as a front for making screwdrivers. The group was allegedly relocating after an associate was arrested by Delhi Police.

The alleged operation was financially large but not fully verified. Police said the accused claimed to have circulated fake coins worth more than Rs 70 crore. Since each coin had a face value of Rs 20, Rs 70 crore corresponds to 3.5 crore coins. Police had not yet verified that claim.

The raid recovered 6,400 counterfeit Rs 20 coins, worth Rs 1.28 lakh at face value, plus semi-finished coins estimated at around Rs 5 lakh. Investigators also seized six heavy machines. The article describes repeated movement of machines and production at different locations, but it does not state how many coins the machines could produce.

The network allegedly operated across Haryana, Delhi, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Jharkhand. Police also said machines had been installed at different locations, including Delhi. However, the article does not provide an exact number of cities or confirm the alleged Rs 70-crore circulation figure.

The alleged manufacturing process began with coin-sized rings made from a mixture of aluminium, copper and nickel. Police said the group procured these rings from a Delhi unit. They then ordered dies that replicated the design of genuine Rs 20 coins from another Delhi-based unit.

The copied dies were pressed onto the rings. Heavy machines then refined the pieces, giving them a brighter finish and a more precise circular shape. Police recovered six such machines, along with 39 unmarked dies and 20 marked dies. They also found a die-polishing machine and two grinding stones.

The seized tools included four brushes, eight files, five hammers, an iron-cutting saw, two pipe wrenches and a vice. The article presents these items as evidence of the alleged production process. It does not specify the machines’ brands, output rates or the exact composition proportions in the metal mixture.

The article does not state how the counterfeit coins entered everyday circulation. It only reports the accused’s claim that they had circulated fake coins worth more than Rs 70 crore, a figure police were still verifying. It also does not mention a selling price of Rs 16 or identify buyers, distributors or businesses involved.

If a counterfeit Rs 20 coin cost less than Rs 16 to make, selling it for Rs 16 could create a margin while making the coin attractive to intermediaries. That is a general economic explanation, not a fact established by this article. The report provides no production-cost figures, transaction records or evidence of such pricing.

The confirmed facts are the seizure of 6,400 coins, semi-finished pieces and manufacturing equipment. Police said the group moved between locations when it feared a crackdown. Further investigation would be needed to establish the distribution chain, prices, profits and the actual scale of circulation.

Genuine Indian coins are minted by the Government of India under the Coinage Act, 2011. Government units in Mumbai, Kolkata, Noida and Hyderabad produce the coins. This official minting role distinguishes lawful coins from the counterfeit pieces allegedly made by the seized network.

The RBI is responsible for putting genuine coins into circulation. Its role with banknotes is different: the article states that banknotes are issued by the Reserve Bank of India. In simple terms, the government mints coins, while the RBI circulates them; the RBI issues banknotes.

This division explains why the counterfeit-coin case is not described as a failure of coin production by the RBI. The alleged criminals copied Rs 20 coins outside the government system, then claimed to have circulated them. The article also notes that counterfeit banknotes rose from 2,17,396 in 2024-25 to 2,29,746 in 2025-26.

A modern economy depends on trust because people accept money in exchange for goods, services and debts. They do not independently test every coin or note. They rely on official production, recognizable features and the expectation that others will accept the same money later.

When counterfeit currency enters circulation, the person who unknowingly accepts it may lose its full value. Repeated counterfeiting can make shops and the public more cautious, slow transactions and increase checking costs. It can also shift losses onto people who have no connection to the manufacturing network. These are general economic consequences; the article does not quantify them in this case.

The Saharanpur investigation shows why counterfeit coins matter alongside fake notes. Police said the accused claimed to have circulated more than Rs 70 crore, though that remains unverified. The case, together with earlier busts in Delhi and Haryana, suggests continued enforcement pressure will be important. Producing fake currency can carry life imprisonment.