Kolkata, March 9 A team of Nepal Police, assisted by its West Bengal counterpart, has arrested seven people, including a couple from the state, and seized counterfeit currency worth approximately Rs 70 crore during a raid at an apartment near Kolkata, an official said on Monday.
The raid took place on Sunday at an apartment within the Kamarhati municipality in Belgharia in the North 24 Parganas district, where the couple, identified as Deepa Dhar and her husband Arindam, were living.
Investigators said that counterfeit notes worth approximately Rs 70 crore were recovered from iron trunks during the search. Twelve mobile phones and a luxury car were also seized from the apartment.
Deepa, a resident of the area, had married Arindam of Harinavi in Sonarpur, South 24 Parganas, a few years ago, he said.
"The couple reportedly travelled to Nepal in 2024, from where they are suspected to have begun their involvement in the counterfeit currency racket," he said.
Investigators said the couple allegedly contacted businessmen through video calls, showing stacks of fake currency and persuading them to invest money in schemes that promised unusually high returns.
"They used video calls to display bundles of currency and lure businesspersons into investing money with the promise that their investment would double," the officer said, adding that the racket may be linked to a larger international smuggling network.
"The scale of the seizure indicates the possible involvement of a wider cross-border counterfeit currency network. All the accused are being questioned to trace the source of the fake notes and identify other members of the syndicate," he added.
Among the seven arrested persons is one Nepalese national, police said.
Neighbours claimed that the flat had become well known in the locality for lavish parties and frequent gatherings.