Fake Rs 500 notes found in Kullu bank, police urge public vigilance

A wave of concern has swept through Kullu district after five counterfeit Rs 500 notes were discovered at the Punjab National Bank (PNB) branch in Bajaura recently. The bank’s Chief District Manager, Rajender Kumar, lodged a formal complaint at the Bhuntar police station. According to the complaint, the fake currency notes, each bearing different serial numbers, were deposited into the account of Vikas Kumar, a resident of Ansar village in Aut tehsil of Mandi district.

Following the complaint, the Bhuntar police registered a case and launched a full-scale investigation. The discovery has raised serious concerns, especially the uncertainty surrounding how far the counterfeit notes may have circulated in the local economy. Authorities are particularly alarmed by the fact that bank employees initially failed to detect the fake notes, suggesting potential vulnerabilities in the system.

The timing of the incident has added to the urgency. Himachal Pradesh is currently in the midst of its apple season, a period marked by high-volume cash transactions as traders from across the country flock to the region to purchase apples. In Kullu district alone, large-scale buying and selling of apples is underway, making the circulation of fake currency a serious threat to both traders and farmers.

Kullu Superintendent of Police, Karthikeyan Gokulachandran, confirmed that the investigation is being pursued from multiple angles. “We are trying to trace the origin of these notes and identify who deposited them into the bank,” he said. “The police are on high alert and are actively monitoring other potential cases of counterfeit currency in the region.”

In response to the incident, the police have issued public advisory urging citizens to carefully inspect currency notes during transactions. They recommend checking the quality of printing, the texture and stiffness of the note, and paying close attention to the blue security stripe near Mahatma Gandhi’s image on the Rs 500 note.

Authorities are urging vigilance and cooperation from the public to prevent further spread of fake notes in the market.