Bhubaneswar, April 17 -- Days after high-quality counterfeit currency notes of around Rs 8 lakh was seized in Sonepur, the Crime Branch intensified its investigation to examine suspected links with the West Bengal elections.

The fake notes were earlier recovered from a car, drawing attention to the scale and quality of the counterfeit currency. Investigators are now focusing on whether the seized amount was intended for distribution among voters in the neighbouring state during the election period.

Two persons detained in connection with the case were being interrogated by the Crime Branch Special Task Force (STF) at the time of reporting. Officials indicated that the accused would be taken on remand for further questioning to establish...