A vegetable vendor in Chikmagaluru, Karnataka, was given a counterfeit Rs 2,000 note, reports said on Saturday. The new currency note has been distributed from Thursday, after the prime minister announced demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. This is the first reported case of a counterfeit Rs 2,000 note. A case of cheating was filed against unknown persons for using a colour photocopy of the new note.
One of the reasons cited for the demonetisation move was the large number of counterfeit notes in circulation. The Home Ministry had informed Parliament that recovery of such notes dropped 30% between 2013 and 2015 because of the accuracy of the currency, The Indian Express reported.
Following the demonetisation announcement on November 9, the Border Security Force and National Investigation Agency have been monitoring suspected racketeers bringing fake notes into the country, a dna report said. Security officials told the publication that there were “intelligence inputs” about the brand new Rs 2,000 note possibly being copied. They added that one person was detained on Thursday in Tarn Taran district in Majha, Punjab for allegedly possessing a fake Rs 2,000 note.
The Bharatiya Janata Party-led government has faced tremendous flak from Opposition parties for the move to demonetise the high-value currency notes.
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