Uttar Pradesh tops in recovery of fake currency

Uttar Pradesh has topped the list of states in recovery of fake Indian currency with a face value of over Rs 2 crore (Rs 20 million) by different government agencies during the year 2009.

According to latest official data, highest recovery and seizures were done from Uttar Pradesh followed by Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Delhi, Tamil Nadu and Chandigarh.

A total of 88,287 counterfeit notes -- 2,732 of 1,000 denomination, 28,973 of 500 and 48,326 of Rs 100 besides, others - with the face value of Rs 2.23 crore (Rs 22.3 million) were recovered or seized from UP.

About 70,770 notes were seized and recovered from Maharashtra with a value of about Rs 3 crore (Rs 30 million), 60,922 fake currency bills of Rs 2.38 crore (Rs 23.8 million) in Andhra Pradesh, 58,217 with face value of Rs 2.44 crore (Rs 24.4 million) from Delhi and 36,502 in Chandigarh with face value of Rs 73 lakh, the data said.

Various government agencies have recovered and seized about six lakh fake Indian currency notes with a face value of about Rs 23 crore (Rs 230 million) from 28 states and seven Union Territories.

It includes 5.12 lakh fake notes with a face value of nearly Rs 20 crore (Rs 200 million) from states and 94,752 currency notes worth Rs 3.20 crore (Rs 32 million) from Union Territories.

A total of 2,559 First Investigation Reports (FIRs) were also registered across the country between January and December last year.

"In order to check this nefarious activity at the functional level, the CBI has been declared as nodal agency for coordination with the States and the Directorate General of Revenue Intelligence has been nominated as the Lead Intelligence agency," a senior Home Ministry official said.

Several agencies, including the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), Ministry of Home Affairs and Intelligence agencies of the Centre and States are working in tandem to thwart the menace, he said.

The state governments have been asked to set up a Committee headed by the Director General of State Police Forces with General Manager or Deputy General Manager of RBI, senior officers of State Intelligence Bureau, Intelligence Branch of State Police forces as a member.

"The offences under Indian Penal Code (IPC), relating to counterfeit currency have been included in the schedule to the National Investigation Agency Act, thereby empowering the NIA to investigate and prosecute such offences," the officer said.

According to the data for January and March this year, a total of 1.09 lakh fake currency notes have been recovered and seized with face value of about Rs 5 crore (Rs 50 million) from different states and Union Territories. Police has registered a total of 302 FIRs in this regard.