Another Accused Arrested in PNB Currency Chest Case in Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh – Indian PSU

The investigation into the Punjab National Bank (PNB) currency chest case in Saharanpur has taken another turn with the arrest of a wanted accused in connection with the alleged withdrawal of ₹4.33 lakh from bundles of currency kept at the bank’s currency chest.

Police arrested Vishal Kumar, a part-time housekeeper, and recovered ₹20,200 in cash from his possession.

The arrest comes amid the ongoing investigation into the much larger case involving the alleged discovery of counterfeit currency worth ₹17.29 crore at the PNB currency chest. The counterfeit currency case is now being investigated by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

The local police had initially investigated the ₹17.29-crore counterfeit currency case. A seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) was constituted by Saharanpur SSP Abhinandan Singh, while the Crime Branch also collected evidence and recorded statements. The case diary containing the evidence and findings gathered during the local investigation has since been handed over to the NIA.

₹4.33 lakh allegedly taken from currency bundles

The separate case involving ₹4.33 lakh was registered at Sadar Bazaar police station on August 29, 2026, on the complaint of Arun Kumar Chaubey, Chief Manager and Nodal Officer of PNB.

According to the complaint, currency notes amounting to ₹4,33,900 were allegedly removed from bundles kept inside the PNB currency chest premises in the Civil Lines area.

Vishal Kumar, son of Brahmpal and a resident of Baleli village under Gagalheri police station, was among those booked in the case.

Police said Vishal was arrested on Saturday following information received from an informer. He was apprehended near the railway ration depot, in front of an abandoned quarter along the small railway line.

According to police, ₹20,200 in cash was recovered from his possession. The police have linked the recovered amount to the case, and Section 317(2) of the BNS has subsequently been added on the basis of the arrest and recovery.

No official link established with ₹17.29-crore counterfeit currency case

The arrest assumes significance because it concerns the same currency chest that has come under scrutiny in the separate counterfeit currency investigation.

However, there is currently no official information from the police or the NIA establishing that Vishal Kumar was directly connected to the source or network behind the ₹17.29 crore in counterfeit currency.

Therefore, drawing a direct connection between the two cases at this stage would be premature.

The two developments do, however, place the operations of the PNB currency chest under greater scrutiny. One investigation concerns the alleged presence of counterfeit currency worth ₹17.29 crore, while the other concerns the alleged removal of ₹4.33 lakh in genuine currency from bundles kept at the facility.

NIA examining evidence collected by local investigators

Following the discovery of the counterfeit currency, the local police and Crime Branch conducted an initial investigation and collected evidence, recorded statements and documented other relevant findings.

The central agency is expected to examine the findings of the local investigation alongside its own probe.

The biggest question in the ₹17.29-crore counterfeit currency case remains the source of such a large quantity of fake notes and how they allegedly reached the bank’s currency chest. The NIA investigation is expected to focus on establishing the chain of events and identifying the individuals or entities involved, if any.

Meanwhile, the arrest of Vishal Kumar has opened another line of inquiry concerning the alleged removal of ₹4.33 lakh from the currency chest. Further questioning and investigation may establish the circumstances in which the ₹20,200 recovered from him came into his possession and what role, if any, he played in the alleged withdrawal of the money.

For now, the ₹17.29-crore counterfeit currency case and the ₹4.33-lakh cash disappearance case remain distinct investigations. Whether investigators eventually find any connection between the two will depend on the evidence that emerges during the ongoing probe.