Even possessing photocopies of notes an offence: Karnataka High Court

Bengaluru: While the entire country is grappling currency demonetisation there were reports of attempts to circulate photocopies of the new currency notes of Rs 2,000 denomination.

According to law, possessing fake currencies is not alone a crime but even possessing, making or using documents resembling currency/bank notes, including photocopies of such notes, is illegal.

However, interestingly, if a person is charged only with the offence under section 489 (e) of the IPC and found guilty under it, he/she shall be punished with fine which may extend up to Rs 200! In one such scenario, two foreign nationals had approached the high court seeking bail.

The two citizens – one hailing from Nigeria and the other from Cameroon, were arrested on various charges, which includes possessing of fake currency notes and fake documents to a tune of Rs 9 lakh.

The two had sought bail on various grounds, including that the fake currency notes seized from the two were photocopies of currency notes and that seizing of photocopied notes does not amount to seizing fake currency. This ground itself is enough for bail, the advocate for foreign nationals had argued.

Three held, fake currencies seized

Mysuru city police have arrested three people for reportedly being involved in producing fake currency notes with the face value of Rs 2000, Rs 50 and Rs 20 here on Friday.

The total face value of the seized currency was Rs 88,240 (44 notes with the face value of Rs 2000, four notes with the face value of Rs 50 and two notes with the face value of Rs 20).

The accused include Ajith (25), a resident of Hinkal in Mysuru, Roshan (28), a resident of Metgalli in Mysuru and Revanna (25), a native of Mandya.
They have also seized a colour xerox machine, scale and a cutter at Roshan’s residence.