First fake Rs 2,000 note surfaces in Gujarat

Even as Rs 2,000 notes printed by the Reserve Bank of India ( RBI) are yet to reach banks everywhere, the first fake note of this denomination has surfaced in Gujarat. A paan shop owner in Bodakdev here found a forged Rs 2,000 currency note in his till. While fake notes found in other parts of the country were photocopied versions, this note had features including the Gandhi watermark next to the national emblem and a fake security thread.

The Centre's move to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes meant brisk business for Vansh Barot who owns a paan and soda shop next to the branch of a bank on busy Judges Bungalow Road. Tired of standing in line, people would walk into the 25-year-old's shop to buy snacks and drinks. So, when a customer handed over a magenta 2,000-rupee note to the employee manning the cash counter on Thursday, it raised no alarm.

That was until Vansh emptied the cash over a magenta 2,000-rupee note to the employee manning the cash counter on Thursday, it raised no alarm. That was until Vansh emptied the cash box to count the day's earnings. A soiled-looking note sent warning bells ringing. "The Rs 2,000 note was introduced recently so it had to be crisp and new in appearance.

This note, however, looked begrimed and faded in colour. I suspected it could be a fake," said Barot, a resident of Sattadhar Society in Sola. He had completed his MBA in Human Resources from London and had set up a franchisee of Anand Paan Shop six months ago. "Since the day was over, I locked the note in my almirah. The next day, I took out the note and compared it to other notes of the same denomination.

I was shocked to see that the note was smaller in length and breadth. To confirm my suspicion, I took the note to the Central Bank of India's Lal Darwaza branch and the manager confirmed that the note was fake," said Vansh, adding, "I then went to the Reserve Bank of India. However, they were closed. I will submit the note along with an application and hand it over to the RBI on Tuesday."

NO CLUE FOUND
Vansh added, "I have CCTV camera in my shop. I went through all the footages captured by this camera on November 17. But I was unable to find the person who gave me this note." Central Bank of India's Chief Manager (Lal Darwaza) BR Ramkrishna Naik confirmed that the fake note had not been aphotocopy. "It was not a simple copy. The fake note brought by Vansh had a security strip and a Gandhi waterark next to the Ashok Pillar emblem. However, it did not have the additional electrotype Rs 2,000' watermark. The seven raised angular bleed lines on the right and left side of the fake 2000-rupee note had gaps. The emblem too was not printed properly. The colour of the fake note was darker than the real note."

He added, "Notes of Rs 2,000 denomination are new in the market so people do not expect fakes so soon. They must learn the security features of the new notes and be extremely cautious while using it for transactions.” Repeated attempts to speak to SOG ACP BC Solanki were in vain. The Central government and the RBI decided to scrap the older high-denomination notes on November 8 and bring in new Rs 2,000 notes for a variety of reasons, among which was the crackdown on fake currency notes. "If anyone comes across a fake note, s/he can take it to a private or government bank," said the manager.

Once the bank identifies (after examination of various safety features) that the note is indeed counterfeit, they put a stamp on the note stating 'Counterfeit Banknote Impounded'. The official enters the details of the note in a separate register. After impounding and stamping the note, the banker gives an acknowledgement receipt. And, you are expected to countersign the receipt. Even if you are unwilling to countersign the receipt the bank will still issue you an acknowledge receipt.

If there are up to four fake notes detected, in a single transaction, then the bank sends a report to the local police authorities along with the notes. If five or more fake notes are detected in a single transaction, the fake notes are forwarded to the local police station. That's not all. A first information report is also filed for further investigation. Under no circumstance will the bank return the note to you, or give you compensation for the note you just lost. So you simply lose the money.

HERE ARE THE 17 POINTS YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SECURITY FEATURES ON RS 2,000 NOTE:
1. The denomination numeral 2000 can been seen when held against light.
2. Latent image of the numeral 2000 can be seen on the back of the note when held at 45 degree angle to the eye.
3. Numeral 2000 written in Devnagari script.
4. Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi in the centre.
5. Micro letter 'RBI' and '2000'.
6. RBI, Bharat in Devnagari and 2000, on the security thread. Colour changes from green to blue.
7. Guarantee Clause, RBI Governor’s signature with promise clause and RBI emblem towards right.
8. Watermark of Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait and electrotype 2000 watermark
9. On the number panel, numerals growing small to big on top left and bottom right.
10. Denomination with rupee symbol in colour chan-ing ink on bottom right
11. Ashok Pillar emblem on the right. For visually impaired Raised printing of Mahatma Gandhi portrait, Ashok pillar, bleed lines and identification mark.
12. Horizontal rectangle with raised 2000 printing on the right
13. Seven raised angular bleed lines on the right and left side
14. Year of printing note.
15. Swachh Bharat logo with slogan.
16. Language panel towards centre.
17. Motif of Mangalyaan.