Fool’s paradise
Nagpur: A YouTube manifestation trick promising a better life appears to have driven a jobless Nagpur man to print fake currency worth ₹85 lakh, believing the ritual would land him a lucrative job. Pushpam Bhadane, the kingpin behind the counterfeit currency seizure at Chaitanyeshwar Nagar, was arrested shortly after midnight on Sunday from Nandanvan, following a 36-hour search using call detail records and mobile phone information. His marriage ended in divorce, he lost his job and incurred losses in forex trading and the share market.
Police sources said Bhadane suffered a series of personal and financial setbacks. Though ATS and intelligence agencies were roped in to bust a bigger threat of economic terror, it turned out Bhadane was driven purely by superstition, financial desperation and beliefs picked up online. As per police sources, Bhadane learnt about manifestation techniques through YouTube videos and believed visualising and performing certain rituals could change his financial circumstances. Bhadane’s unusual plan allegedly involved burying the fake currency in the ground, growing a tulsi plant at the spot, later taking a tulsi leaf to a temple and worshipping it daily. Police claimed that Bhadane reportedly spent three hours on rituals every day, hoping his fortunes would change. He was an ardent worshipper of the Sindhi deity, Jhulelal. His subsidised grain ration shop also shut down, leaving him without a regular source of income.
Cops recovered fully printed ₹500 notes worth around ₹37 lakh and partially printed notes valued at approximately ₹48 lakh, taking the total estimated value of the seized material to ₹85 lakh. You Can Also Check: Gold Rate in Nagpur | Silver Rate in Nagpur | Bank Holidays in Nagpur | Public Holidays in Nagpur | Petrol Price in Nagpur | Diesel Price in Nagpur | CNG Price in Nagpur | LPG Price in Nagpur Stay updated with the latest Nagpur news.
Investigators said he allegedly learnt how to print currency-like notes through YouTube tutorials. Interestingly, police said there was no evidence so far that he circulated or used the fake notes to buy goods or cheat anyone. “Bhadane allegedly printed the notes and kept them with him for the purpose of manifestations or using the bundles as a pillow while sleeping,” said senior inspector Pramod Pore of Wathoda police station.
Bhadane subsequently began living separately in a rented accommodation, surviving on old savings and assistance from friends. The case came to light after landlord Ramesh Harde, concerned over unpaid rent and Bhadane’s prolonged absence, opened the locked apartment with a master key. He was stunned to find bundles of suspected counterfeit currency and printing equipment inside and alerted Wathoda police. Senior inspector Pore and ACP Rohit Ovhal supervised the search operation. After tracing Bhadane through mobile phone details and call records, the team finally arrested him. Download the TOI App.