Pakistan finds a way to counterfeit ‘high security’ Rs 2,000 currency notes; 11 out of 17 security features copied in fake currency

For each fake note of 2000 rupee, smugglers had to pay Rs 400-600 in genuine currency.

New Delhi, Feb 13: After Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation on November 8 with the view of eradicating black money and fake currency from the country, it took only two months for Pakistan to create fake currencies of 2000 rupee notes. National Investigation Agency (NIA) and Border Security Force (BSF) on February 8 arrested Azizur Rahman from Murshidabad who according to sources, was carrying 40 fake notes of 2000 rupee notes. For each fake note of 2000 rupee, smugglers had to pay Rs 400-600 in genuine currency, The Indian Express reported.

The report further stated that a study of the seized notes by experts and investigators revealed that at least 11 of the 17 security features which include the transparent area, Ashoka Pillar Emblem, watermark, guarantee clause with Urjit Patel’s signature. the letters of ‘Rs 2000’ on the left and the Devanagari font for the denomination number has been replicated.

Azizur Rahman, who hails from Malda, West Bengal stated in the investigation that the notes have been printed in Pakistan with the help of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and it is supplied to India via Bangladesh. Although the quality of the fake notes supplied is not good, but it is better than the earlier fake notes seized by the NIA, the report further said. 

A similar incident of fake currency had taken place last month where a man was arrested with fake currency near the border area.

The Modi-led BJP government is already into controversies after Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on February 3 stated that only about Rs 19.5 crore fake currency has been detected during the exchange and deposit of the scrapped 500 and 1000 currency notes. The fake notes collected represents only 0.0016% of the 12.44 lakh crore figure.

Following are the 17 key features of the 2000 rupee note: 

Obverse

1. See through register with denominational numeral 2000 can be seen when the note is held against light

2. Latent image with denominational numeral 2000 which can be seen when the banknote is held at 45-degree angle at the eye level

3. Denominational numeral 2000 in Devanagari

4. Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi in the centre

5. Micro letters ‘RBI’ and ‘2000’

6. Colour shift windowed security thread with inscriptions ‘Bharat’, RBI and 2000. Colour of the thread changes from green to blue when the note is tilted

7. Guarantee Clause, Governor’s signature with Promise Clause and RBI emblem towards right

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8. Mahatma Gandhi portrait and electrotype (2000) watermarks

9. Number panel with numerals growing from small to big on the top left side and bottom right side

10. Ashoka Pillar emblem on the right

For visually impaired

11. Raised printing of Mahatma Gandhi portrait, Ashoka Pillar emblem, based and identification mark

12. Horizontal rectangle with Rs 2000 in raised print on the right

13. Seven angular bleed lines on left and right side in raised print

Reverse

14. Year of printing on the note

15. Swachh Bharat logo with slogan

16. Language panel towards the centre

17. Motif of Mangalyan – reflecting country’s first venture in the interplanetary space

Speaking in the parliament, Jaitley had stated that post demonetisation, there is a ‘total halt’ in the smuggling of fake currency in the country.