Baramulla Court denies bail to accused in counterfeit currency case

Srinagar, Aug 8: A court in north Kashmir’s Baramulla district Friday rejected bail plea of an accused who has been arrested by police in a case for his alleged involvement in counterfeit currency.

Court of Sub Judge Baramulla, Imran Haneef Khan, declined to grant bail to Irfan Ahmad Bhat after it noted that the accusations against the accused were grave and serious in nature.

“The offences U/s 178 to 180 of BNS pertain to counterfeit currency, which poses a direct threat to the economic security and integrity of the nation,” the court said while rejecting bail application of Bhat who has been arrested in FIR 42/2025.

The Court observed that the material collected by the investigating agency so far included the seizure of fake currency notes to the tune of Rs 1,47,500 from the possession of the accused, which, prima facie, connects him with the alleged offences.

While the court noted that as per prosecution, investigation is in progress, and that there is every possibility that more persons involved in the racket may be unearthed during the investigation, it said: “Granting bail at this juncture in considered opinion of this court impedes or prejudice ongoing investigation and may enable the accused to tamper with evidence or influence potential witnesses”.

In his objections to the bail plea, the Assistant Public Prosecutor (APP), Basit Makhdoomi, contended that the offences under Sections 178, 179, and 180 of the BNS are exceptionally grave, striking at the very foundation of the nation’s economic integrity and public trust.

“While Section 178 of BNS pertains to counterfeiting coin or government stamps, punishable with imprisonment up to seven years, Section 179 of BNS addresses using as genuine a counterfeit coin or stamp, facilitating the circulation of fake currency, also punishable with imprisonment up to seven years,” he said.

The APP said that section 180 of BNS involves possession of a counterfeit coin or stamp, indicating intent to perpetrate economic harm, carrying a punishment of up to seven years. “The punishments associated with these offences clearly depict the gravity that the legislators intended to attach with these offences,” he said.

In a strong opposition to the bail, the APP said that “involvement in counterfeiting Indian currency constitutes a direct assault on the economic stability of the nation, particularly in the sensitive region of District Baramulla, where such activities could exacerbate societal unrest”.