GURGAON: A high-paying IT professional’s two-day stay at a hotel room has led police to an alleged counterfeit currency investigation in Faridabad, with officials now probing whether the operation was being run alone or was part of a larger network.Vinayak Jha, an IT engineer employed with a multinational company in Noida, was arrested on Monday after police allegedly recovered fake currency printing material from a hotel room in Faridabad.Jha had checked into Hotel Sarovar Portico on June 26 but allegedly kept the room locked for two days while carrying the keys with him.The prolonged inactivity raised suspicion among hotel staff, following which they alerted Surajkund police.With the assistance of the hotel staff, police opened Room No. 404-B and conducted a search.The room was found vacant, but investigators allegedly recovered a laptop, a printer, special paper believed to be used for printing currency, one counterfeit Rs 500 note, 10 counterfeit Rs 100 notes and other equipment suspected to have been used in the production of fake currency.Using the identity documents submitted at the hotel, police traced Jha to his residence in Faridabad Sector 17.He was taken into custody after allegedly failing to provide a satisfactory explanation regarding the material recovered from the room.Police spokesperson Yashpal Singh said preliminary investigation revealed that Jha is a graduate of VIT Bengaluru.Police sources said he earns a package of Rs 42 lakh annually, while his father is employed in a government department and his mother also holds a senior position in a government office.A case has been registered under Sections 178 and 181 of the BNS.Police have sent the seized laptop, printer and other electronic devices for forensic examination to determine whether counterfeit notes were printed earlier and to recover any digital evidence linked to the alleged operation.An officer said, “We have taken his custody for two days and are examining the reason behind the setup and whether he was working for someone or under some direction. The case has been transferred to the NIT crime branch.”Investigators are also examining how long the alleged counterfeit currency operation had been active, whether more people were involved, where the equipment was procured from and whether the accused received assistance in transporting the devices.Police are also analysing CCTV footage from the hotel to identify anyone who may have accompanied Jha during his stay.Officials are verifying the government departments where Jha’s parents are employed, checking his past record and attempting to uncover the full extent of the alleged counterfeit currency network.
- 42 lakh package techie under scanner: Vinayak Jha, an IT engineer working with a multinational company in Noida, was arrested for allegedly running a
counterfeit currency printing setup. - Hotel room mystery: Jha checked into Hotel Sarovar Portico on June 26 and allegedly left the room locked for two days with the keys, leading staff to alert police.
- Counterfeit setup recovered: Police found a laptop, printer, special paper, fake Rs 500 and Rs 100 notes, and other equipment from Room No. 404-B.
- Room was empty during raid: Police opened the locked room with hotel staff assistance, but Jha was not present at the time.
- Police traced him through hotel records: Using identity documents submitted at the hotel, investigators tracked Jha to his Faridabad Sector 17 residence.
- High-profile background under probe: Police said Jha is a VIT Bengaluru graduate, while sources said his father works in a government department and his mother also holds a senior government position.
- Digital trail being examined: Police have sent the laptop, printer and electronic devices for forensic analysis to check whether more counterfeit notes were printed.
- Crime network angle under investigation: Police are probing whether Jha acted alone or worked under someone’s direction, and how long the alleged operation had been running.
- CCTV footage being analysed: Investigators are checking hotel cameras to identify whether anyone visited or assisted Jha.
- Case moved to NIT crime branch: Police have taken Jha’s custody and are investigating the source of the equipment, possible accomplices and the full extent of the alleged counterfeit currency operation.
