A 24-year-old man, Amir Hossain, has been arrested in Tripura’s Sepahijala district for allegedly possessing and circulating counterfeit Rs 500 currency notes. The arrest took place in the Sonamura area, according to Officer-in-Charge of Sonamura Police Station, Tapas Das.

Police recovered 16 fake Rs 500 notes from Hossain at the time of his arrest. Authorities said he was caught while attempting to use the counterfeit money. Several items he had purchased using the fake notes were also seized, including a blade, snacks, a Goodknight liquid mosquito repellent, and an Android mobile phone. These purchases were reportedly made at Seven Heavens Shopping Mall near Sonamura Bridge Chowmuhani.

Hossain, a resident of Bardowal Munshibari and son of Jalil Khandakar, has been booked at Sonamura Police Station. Investigators have begun intensive questioning to trace the origin and circulation network of the fake currency.

During preliminary interrogation, the accused reportedly disclosed names and details of other suspected individuals linked to the racket. This information has been shared with state and central intelligence agencies, and further verification is ongoing.

Police believe the counterfeit network may extend to multiple locations within the district, including Sonamura, Kakraban, Jatrapur, and Bishalgarh. Hossain is set to be produced in court, where police will request custody to continue the investigation.