Delhi High Court – Orders
Bail) Ruslan Petrov Metodiev vs State Govt Of Nct Of Delhi on 12 March, 2025
Author: Sanjeev Narula
Bench: Sanjeev Narula
$~1
* IN THE HIGH COURT OF DELHI AT NEW DELHI
+ BAIL APPLN. 4521/2024 & CRL.M.(BAIL) 2091/2024 (for interim
bail)
RUSLAN PETROV METODIEV .....Petitioner
Through: Mr. Kartik, Mr. Abu Bakar Sabbaq,
Advocates
versus
STATE GOVT OF NCT OF DELHI .....Respondent
Through: Mr. Amit Ahlawat, APP for the State
with SI Dharmender, PS Special Cell,
NR & STF, Rohini, Delhi
CORAM:
HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SANJEEV NARULA
ORDER
% 12.03.2025
1. The present application filed under Section 483 of the Bharatiya
Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 20231 (formerly Section 439 of the Code of
Criminal Procedure, 19732) seeks regular bail in proceedings arising from
FIR No. 163/2023 dated 21st June, 2023 registered under Sections
489B/489C of the Indian Penal Code, 18603 at P.S. Special Cell (Delhi).
Subsequently, a chargesheet was filed and the Applicant has been charged
with offences under Sections 489B/489C/489D of IPC and Section 14 of the
Foreigners Act, 1946.
2. A copy of the status report has been handed over across the Board and
1
“BNSS”
2
“Cr.P.C.”
3
“IPC”
BAIL APPLN. 4521/2024 Page 1 of 8
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is taken on record.
3. In brief, the case of the prosecution is as follows:
3.1. On 21st June, 2023, the police received specific intelligence regarding
a foreign national allegedly engaged in the supply of Fake Indian Currency
Notes.4 The information indicated that he would be arriving at Ganda Nala
Road, near Najafgarh- Kapashera Road, Delhi between 10:00 AM to 12:00
Noon to deliver a consignment of FICN to one of his contacts namely,
Ashaiba.
3.2. Acting on this input, a raiding team was formed and a trap was laid at
Ganda Nala Road near Bajgheda Chowk, Delhi. At the designated time, the
police intercepted and apprehended the suspect, identified as Ruslan Petrov
Metodiv, the Applicant. Upon searching his bag, a paper packet containing
16 bundles of currency notes in ₹500 denominations was recovered. In total,
1,600 notes amounting to ₹8,00,000/- in suspected FICN were seized. The
recovered material was duly taken into police custody through a seizure
memo, and the present FIR was registered. The Applicant was arrested on
the same day.
3.3. During interrogation, the Applicant disclosed that he is a Bulgarian
national who first arrived in India in 2018 and subsequently visited again in
2019. He was previously arrested in connection with FIR No. 35/2019,
registered at P.S. Tughlak Road, Delhi, and was granted bail in January,
2021. The Applicant further revealed that during his prior incarceration, he
came into contact with individuals involved in the printing and circulation of
FICN. Initially, he worked as a courier, delivering FICN across Delhi-NCR4
“FICN”
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under the instructions of his associates. However, realizing the profitability
of the trade, he allegedly began printing FICN himself and distributing it
within Delhi-NCR. He disclosed that the counterfeiting operation was being
conducted from his rented residence at Flat No. 681, 1 st Floor, C-1 Block,
Palam Vihar, Gurugram and the equipment could be recovered from the
premises.
3.4. Based on the Applicant’s disclosure, a search was conducted at his
residence, leading to the recovery of one lamination machine, one paper
scaling and cutter machine, one scale, one paper cutting tool, one loose
bundle/rim of papers, one loose bunch/rim of tracing papers, 35 tracing
papers bearing the impression of ‘500’ (green colour), ‘RBI’, ‘500’, ‘भारत’,
and pictures of Mahatma Gandhi, 30 semi-finished FICN seats, 3 wooden
frames with imprints of numeral ‘500’, one metallic clamping tool, 2
adhesive spray bottles, one bottle of glitter powder, one green foil paper roll,
one glittering foil paper roll, one LED lamp, 8 plastic containers having ink,
one plastic box having white colour paint, one box containing 5 LED lights
with wires, 2 laptops, 2 printers used for preparing FICN and cash of INR
1,89,000/-. The recovered items were taken into police custody through
seizure memos, and consequently, Section 489D of IPC was added to the
present case.
3.5. On 18th July, 2023, the recovered FICN of ₹8 lakhs along with FSL
form and relevant documents were deposited in the Government Currency
Note Press, Government of India, Devas, Madhya Pradesh. On 10th August,
2023, the certified copy of CNP Report (Devas) was obtained which
reported: “The referred suspected Rs. 500/- X 1600 notes are of NOT HIGH
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QUALITY”.
3.6. The Applicant’s passport was verified through the Embassy of the
Republic of Bulgaria, and its genuineness was confirmed. However, the
passport had expired on 14th June, 2023. The Applicant had submitted an
application for its renewal, but the same remains under consideration.
Accordingly, Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, 1946, was added.
4. Counsel for the Applicant argues that the Applicant has been falsely
implicated and urges the following grounds in support of his request for bail:
4.1. The Applicant has remained in custody since 21st June, 2023. With the
investigation now complete and both the chargesheet and supplementary
chargesheet having been filed, there is no further justification for his
continued incarceration. Given that the prosecution’s case primarily hinges
on documentary evidence, the possibility of tampering stands effectively
ruled out. Consequently, no meaningful purpose would be served by
prolonging his detention.
4.2. The Applicant’s arrest is based solely on his confessional/disclosure
statement recorded during police custody, which is inadmissible in law.
There are no independent witnesses, CCTV footage or videographic
evidence supporting the prosecution’s case. Additionally, the prosecution
has failed to establish the Applicant’s presence at the location mentioned in
the FIR.
4.3. The witnesses cited in chargesheet are also from the Special Cell,
Delhi Police itself. Therefore, there is possibility of the Applicant
influencing or pressurizing any witness.
4.4. A plain reading of the FIR and chargesheet does not disclose the
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commission of offences under Sections 489B, 489C or 489D of IPC by the
Applicant. While it is alleged that the Applicant was found in possession of
fake currency, the prosecution has failed to produce any evidence
demonstrating that he was engaged in counterfeiting, circulating or
knowingly using FICN. The mere recovery of currency notes, without proof
of active involvement in their printing or distribution, does not suffice to
establish the ingredients of the alleged offences.
4.5 As per the seizure memo, the recovered items, including laptops,
printers, sheets, inks and cutters, do not possess evidentiary value to
establish that they were used by the Applicant for counterfeiting.
4.6 The Trial Court has already directed the prosecution to produce the
Call Detail Records of the raiding team which will demonstrate that it is a
case of false implication.
5. On the other hand, Mr. Amit Ahlawat, APP for the State, strongly
opposes the bail application. He argues that the chargesheet contains
sufficient material to establish the Applicant’s culpability. He emphasizes
that, beyond the seizure of FICN, the recovery of specialized equipment
from the Applicant’s residence unequivocally indicates his active
involvement in counterfeiting operations. Additionally, he relies on the FSL
report, which purportedly contains incriminating internet chat files, and
videos substantiating the Applicant’s role in the offence. The prosecution
further highlights that the Applicant’s previous bail applications have been
rejected- first by the ASJ, Patiala House Courts, by orders dated 18 th
October, 2023 and 23rd October, 2024, and subsequently by this Court on
23rd January, 2024.
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6. The Court has considered the afore-noted facts and contentions of
both sides.
7. The prosecution’s case is not solely based on the recovery of FICN
from the Applicant but is further substantiated by other material seized
during the investigation from his residence, including digital devices,
printers and raw materials used for counterfeiting, indicating that the
Applicant’s alleged activities were part of an ongoing operation. A forensic
examination of the raw materials, laptops, and mobile phones recovered
from the Applicant’s residence revealed that the Applicant had conducted
multiple online searches related to the production of counterfeit currency,
including materials and techniques used in counterfeiting.
8. Furthermore, during the forensic analysis of the solid-state drive
(SSD-A) recovered from the Applicant’s possession, a video file with the
path “SSD-A-DATA\MULTIMEDIA\VID-20230618-WA0001.mp4” was
retrieved. The video purportedly shows the Applicant recording himself
while printing the RBI emblem, the numeral ‘500,’ and the image of
Mahatma Gandhi using a printer. This visual evidence further corroborates
the prosecution’s claim that the Applicant was engaged in the production of
counterfeit currency.
9. At this stage, the Court, while considering a bail application, must
refrain from conducting a detailed or meticulous examination of the
prosecution’s evidence, as any conclusive finding could prejudice either
party. However, on a prima facie basis, the documents and digital evidence
produced by the prosecution, as enclosed with the chargesheet, sufficiently
indicate the commission of the offences for which the Applicant has been
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chargesheeted.
10. The Applicant is a foreign national and his passport has already
expired. While he has applied for renewal, its status remains pending. Given
the serious nature of the allegations against him and the potential for a
lengthy sentence if convicted, there exists a strong possibility that the
Applicant may abscond if released on bail.
11. The charges against the Applicant are grave, invoking Sections 489B,
489C and 489D of IPC, which pertain to counterfeiting currency, along with
Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, 1946. The circulation of counterfeit
currency poses a significant threat to the national economy, disrupting
financial stability and regulatory mechanisms. The motives behind such
activities often extend beyond mere profit and can contribute to economic
destabilization by undermining liquidity and financial security.
Counterfeiting is also closely linked to various other illegal activities,
including drug trafficking, illicit arms trade, cross-border money laundering
and human trafficking. The adverse impact of such operations on the
economy is severe. In the present case, the Applicant was found in
possession of FICN and the very existence of such counterfeit currency
implies its intended circulation, as counterfeit notes serve no purpose unless
introduced into the financial system.
12. In light of the serious nature of these offences and considering the
material available on record, the Court finds no justifiable ground to grant
bail to the Applicant at this stage.
13. It is clarified that any observations made in the present order are for
the purpose of deciding the present bail application and should not influence
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the outcome of the trial and also not be taken as an expression of opinion on
the merits of the case.
14. Accordingly, the present application is dismissed.
SANJEEV NARULA, J
MARCH 12, 2025/ab
BAIL APPLN. 4521/2024 Page 8 of 8
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