Police said Imtiyaz Shaikh, a South African had checked in at Hotel Oberoi on May 2. He was joined by a Zimbabwean, Suresh Singh, on May 3. The two encashed US dollars on the hotel's counter through cashier Cyrus.

The bills were in the denomination of 100 and there appeared something wrong with them. When the two again presented bills to be changed into Indian currency, Cyrus consulted checked the bills and found them fake. The hotel then informed Cuffe Parade police.