Anupam Kher recently expressed his disbelief after learning that a trader in Ahmedabad was scammed with fake Rs 500 notes featuring his image instead of that of Mahatma Gandhi. Furthermore, the fake notes bore the name ‘Resole Bank of India’ instead of the ‘Reserve Bank of India.’ Videos showcasing these fake currencies have been widely shared on social media. Kher posted one of these videos with the caption, “My picture instead of Gandhiji’s on ₹500 notes???? Anything can happen (sic).”

How was Ahmedabad man duped with fake currency notes?

The complaint was lodged by Mehul Thakkar, a bullion trader, at the Navrangpura police station on September 24. Thakkar explained that one of his employees was approached by the suspects for a transaction involving 2,100 grams of gold worth Rs 1.6 crore. The scammers provided Rs 1.3 crore in cash, claiming they would deliver the remaining Rs 30 lakh the next day. However, after Thakkar handed over the gold, the con artists vanished, leaving him to find that all the notes were counterfeit.

In an interview with The Indian Express, Inspector AA Desai she suspecs that the suspects orchestrated a scheme to defraud the bullion company. The courier service involved in the gold delivery was also fraudulent, lacking any registered rental agreement. They rented a shop and placed a fake sign for the courier company, assuring the landlord they would finalize the rental agreement within a couple of days. The currency notes they provided were counterfeit, featuring images of Anupam Kher.

The police are relying on the CCTV footage to nab the fraudsters, who are currently not to be found anywhere. They said that the perpetrators established their office only two days prior to the transaction, complicating the ability of Joshi or Thakkar to notice any warning signs during the deal. As the investigation continues, the bold decision to feature a Bollywood actor’s image on the counterfeit notes introduces an intriguing element to this already strange fraud case.