Police entered a rental room in Nagpur’s Kharbi area on Saturday after the landlord, Ramesh, smashed the lock with a hammer. Inside, a printer, printing material, and bundles of counterfeit Rs 500 notes were found; a counting machine later estimated the money at Rs 48 lakh.
The tenant, Pushpak Krishna Bhandarkar alias Bendane, had rented the room for 18 months and stopped paying rent in January. When Ramesh asked him to vacate, Bhandarkar allegedly threatened the landlord with a knife, forcing the landlord to call the police.
Superintendent of Police Vikas Sharma said the seized printer and 37 lakh worth of fake notes were recovered in a single room. The police are now searching for Bhandarkar, who has been traced to Mumbai, and expect to arrest him within 48 hours.
The offence falls under Section 420 of the Indian Penal Code and the Prevention of Money Laundering Act. A conviction could carry up to 10 years in prison and a fine of up to ₹1 crore.
Ramesh, who runs a local grocery shop, told reporters that the discovery has shaken his confidence in letting strangers rent his property. "I thought I was safe, but this is a nightmare," he said.