Daijiworld Media Network - Puttur (SP)

Puttur, Mar 24: Of late, there has been an alarming increase in the circulation of counterfeit currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 denominations in Uppinangady and surrounding areas. The mischief is mainly done by routing these notes through bars and petrol bunks, it is gathered. In a recent case, a petrol bunk here had got a number of fake currency notes towards fuel bought from there by unknown customers.

The fact that the petrol bunk operators were taken for a ride came to be known only when the notes were presented in the bank. This has made the petrol bunk staff to view those presenting currency notes of the above denominations either as customers or seeking smaller denominations in exchange, with suspicion. The bank staff not only place a seal across the note but also tear off the serial number portion, thus stopping the notes from getting circulated further.

Many of the notes are being tendered by people engaged in this business in shops and establishments located in rural or semi urban areas, it is said. There are also claims that counterfeit notes have also been found in cash gifts presented to some newly married couples recently. The fact that the police's first needle of suspicion rests on the complainant himself, is discouraging people from approaching the police station, it is being analyzed.

The people need to be very careful in handling currency notes in the denominations of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000. At the same time, police personnel are expected to bust the racket involved with the circulation of fake notes to save common people from incurring heavy losses.