Hyderabad: The RBI has told bankers that it will take a tough stance against counterfeit currency during the demonetisation drive. It has directed bankers to careful about counterfeits while exchanging old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes.
Bankers meanwhile say that a few banks in rural areas do not have the required equipment for identifying counterfeits. Even many post offices across the two Telugu states do not have the mechanism to identify fake currency.
All India Bank Employees’ Association B.S. Rambabu said due to the rush and no gap between transactions, mistakes might creep in. “Counterfeits can be identified through infra-red machines. But there are chances of receiving notes printed before 2005. The RBI has cancelled such notes,” he said.
An RBI official said the apex bank would not accept counterfeit or notes printed before 2005. “We have given instructions to bankers. If they get such currency it is their negligence and they should bear the risk. All banks have counterfeit identification machines,” he said.
The TS police has said that no counterfeit cases had been registered after November 8 except for information from a bank at Pet Basheerabad about a person trying to deposit fake notes, but the staff sent him away before informing the police.
Abids inspector A. Gangadhar and Saifabad inspector K. Purna Chander said that no cases related to counterfeit currency had ben registered since November 8. “The state headquarters of major banks including RBI are located under our jurisdiction but no banker have approached us about fake notes,” they said.
Old notes missing from some banks
Officials at at least three major banks found a difference ranging from Rs 1 lakh to Rs 2 lakh in their accounts in the last 15 days and are holding internal inquiries. Sources said the misplaced currency was in demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes. All India Bank Employees’ Association secretary B.S. Ramba-bu said, “bankers should reduce burden on cashiers.” A bank official said that the cashier should bear the misplaced amount at the end of the day.
