Meerut ATM 'dispenses' Rs 2,000 'Children Bank of India' note

MEERUT: In yet another instance of ATM dispensing fake currency notes, a Punjab National Bank ATM in Meerut has dished out fake Rs 2,000 notes bearing the name of "Children Bank of India" instead of Reserve Bank of India. Sunil Dutt Sharma, a teacher at a primary school in the city, claimed that he had withdrawn two Rs 2,000 notes from an ATM in Tejgarhi area, one of which was the fake. PNB authorities have started an investigation and are studying CCTV footage from the ATM.

Sunil Dutt Sharma, a teacher at Fate Ullahpur primary school in Meerut, said, "I had gone to withdraw Rs 10,000 from a PNB ATM in Meerut's Tejgarhi area on February 24 afternoon. The ATM dispensed five notes of Rs 2,000, which I took home. In the evening on February 24, I gave one Rs 2,000 note to my milkman, but he brought it back to me on February 25 morning saying I had given him a fake note. He said that he did not take payment from anybody else that day and the only Rs 2,000 he had was given by me. This was one of the five notes dispensed by the ATM."

Sharma brought the matter to the notice of the bank authorities on Monday as the banks remained closed on February 25 and 26. "When we got to know about the fake note, we immediately contacted the bank authorities via the toll-free number, but they told us to inform the bank officials once the banks reopen," said Sharma.

The bank authorities said the matter was under investigation. Talking to TOI, Mukesh Kumar, bank manager, PNB (Mangal Pandey Nagar branch), said, "We agree that cash feeding is outsourced, but the said note had changed hands several times and was not with the person who withdrew it from the ATM. We have doubts about the claim that our ATM dispensed the fake note."

Sameer Bajpai, Meerut circle head, PNB, said, "We have got all the ATMs checked and not a single case of 'fake notes' has come to fore. The CCTV camera footage is being investigated, which could not be done on Tuesday due to the bank strike. Once we screen the footage, we will be in a better state to say something regarding the issue.

No police complaint has been lodged so far.

On February 6, a State Bank of India ATM in South Delhi's Sangam Vihar dispensed fake Rs 2,000 notes bearing 'Children Bank of India'.