RTI finds RBI has no info on fake notes

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has admitted that it has no confirmed data of the number or value of fake currencies detected since the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, an RTI query has revealed.

“We presently don’t have the confirmed data on this query,” said a reply from the RBI’s Department of Currency Management (Forged Note Vigilance Division), to prominent RTI  activist Anil Galgali.

In a pointed query, Galgali had asked RBI to provide details of the number or value of the fake currencies detected post-demonetisation. “However, the RBI has made it clear that nearly 11 weeks later, it has simply no data available on this crucial aspect. So the government’s claims to demonetise as a weapon to kill fake currency is proving hollow,” said Galgali.