<p>“The situation is alarming,” Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Upper House during Question Hour."<br /><br />However, he asserted that the government had taken concrete steps to bust rackets dealing with fake currency and even significant policy changes would be on the anvil.<br />“Arrests are being made and legal processes are on, but it is a continuing process,” the minister said. Mukherjee also said there were groups trying to inject massive doses of counterfeit notes in the country with the aim of destabilising the economy.<br />While maintaining that it would be difficult to quantify counterfeit currency in circulation he said as per 2005 figures there are 48.9 billion pieces of currency in circulation and of these 0.001 per cent could be fake. "<br /><br />Meanwhile, CPI-M member Brinda Karat on Tuesday expressed concern over India not being allowed to question LeT operative Headley even though FBI officials could question Ajmal Kasab, who is presently in Indian custody. “FBI knew the antecedents of Headley as he had earlier worked as an undercover agent of the CIA and the US government had helped him to make frequent trips to Pakistan,” she said asking whether the US agency had passed on such information to India.<br /><br />“Did our PM raise the issue with the US President? I want to know what steps are being taken to ensure that Indian investigators could question Headley?” Karat asked.</p>
<p>“The situation is alarming,” Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told the Upper House during Question Hour."<br /><br />However, he asserted that the government had taken concrete steps to bust rackets dealing with fake currency and even significant policy changes would be on the anvil.<br />“Arrests are being made and legal processes are on, but it is a continuing process,” the minister said. Mukherjee also said there were groups trying to inject massive doses of counterfeit notes in the country with the aim of destabilising the economy.<br />While maintaining that it would be difficult to quantify counterfeit currency in circulation he said as per 2005 figures there are 48.9 billion pieces of currency in circulation and of these 0.001 per cent could be fake. "<br /><br />Meanwhile, CPI-M member Brinda Karat on Tuesday expressed concern over India not being allowed to question LeT operative Headley even though FBI officials could question Ajmal Kasab, who is presently in Indian custody. “FBI knew the antecedents of Headley as he had earlier worked as an undercover agent of the CIA and the US government had helped him to make frequent trips to Pakistan,” she said asking whether the US agency had passed on such information to India.<br /><br />“Did our PM raise the issue with the US President? I want to know what steps are being taken to ensure that Indian investigators could question Headley?” Karat asked.</p>
