Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Nov 8: On the first anniversary of currency note demonetization exercise, Anti Corruption Bureau wing of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed its maiden charge sheet pertaining to a case of illegal currency note exchange. The charge sheet has named G Raviraj, who was working as cashier in State Bank of Mysore's Avenue Road Branch here, which has been designated as currency management branch.

Raviraj ended his life after he came to know that CBI had begun preliminary inquiry about his activities relating to exchange of currency notes, during the fag end of 2016.

Five first information reports had been registered by CBI in respect of exchange of demonetized currency notes with new notes in violation of norms. CBI says that investigation pertaining to the remaining four cases is continuing. One of them is against high profile chief project officer of Karnataka State Highway Development Project, S C Jayachandra. The first charge sheet names only Raviraj as accused, while in the case of other employees, it has suggested to undertake departmental enquiry.

After demonetization process was set into motion, CBI had got information about illegal exchange of currenecy notes with the old ones going on at Kollegal branch of State Bank of Mysore. CBI had filed first information report against head cashier of the bank, Parashiva Murthy, and others in this case.

Raviraj allegedly improperly used new currency notes of Rs 2,000 amounting to Rs 20 lac for illegal exchange of old notes. It was found that although he had withdrawn Rs 20 lac purportedly to supply to some branch, the new currency notes were not supplied to any of the branches the bank as expected from currency chests, but the new currency notes were supplied to some individuals in exchange for demonetised currency notes.

It is said that as Raviraj is no more, the case will be treated as closed after the court takes into record the charge sheet.