Rs 2,000 features copied, warns IB

Mukesh Ranjan

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, February 24

Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) operatives have managed to copy eight out of 10 security features in the new Rs 2,000 note, a joint report of the Intelligence Bureau and National Investigation Agency has alerted the government after last week’s seizure along the India-Bangladesh border.

The report, however, indicated that Pakistan’s international spy agency and its operatives have so far “failed to procure the fine paper which India’s security presses use for such notes”.

One of the major objectives of demonetisation, as spelt out by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, was to wipe out fake currency, most of which was in Rs 500 denomination.

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According to sources, the agencies suggested that the government “must take immediate preventive measures to ensure that the ISI or its operatives are not able to get the paper from those who supply this to the Indian security printing press”.

Sources said the seized fake Rs 2,000 notes were “near original” but the quality of paper was not very good.  The agencies have called for “foolproof security arrangements.”