Tobacco vendor gets shocker in fake note of Rs 500 in new design in Amritsar

The victim, a roadside tobacco vendor identified as Ram Das Chaurasiya said, “It was a luxury car; I couldn’t see them as it was dark. They stopped their vehicle, took out the note and purchased goods worth Rs 100. As this is a new note, it was tough to realise its authenticity in a minute. But still, I was reluctant so I asked people standing nearby and they said that it’s a new note, how can it be fake. I have been deceived.”

After the discovery of five fake notes of Rs 2,000 in Tarn Taran a few days ago, another fake Rs 500 note (new currency) was found in Amritsar on Monday.

The vendor showing the fake note of Rs 500 at Ranjit Avenue in Amritsar on Monday. (Sameer Sehgal /HT)

The victim, a roadside tobacco vendor identified as Ram Das Chaurasiya said, “It was a luxury car; I couldn’t see them as it was dark. They stopped their vehicle, took out the note and purchased goods worth Rs 100. As this is a new note, it was tough to realise its authenticity in a minute. But still, I was reluctant so I asked people standing nearby and they said that it’s a new note, how can it be fake. I have been deceived.”

The fake note.

“On one hand, the RBI is failing to release sufficient Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 notes, and on the other, people have already started printing fake currency. The rackets need to be checked and curbed,” said Chaurasiya. Ram Das only noticed the con while he was tallying the day’s collection on Sunday morning.

A senior manager of Punjab National Bank, Azad Singh was approached regarding how a customer can identify authenticity of the note, “This scarcity of currency can lead to these unethical activities. People should be cautious and well read about the security features of the note which is easily available online. People who aren’t well-versed with technology can visit the banks and understand them for once,” he added.