'How many fake notes? Even RBI doesn't know, reveals RTI inquiry

'We presently don't have confirmed data on the query," said RBI's Department of Currency Management

The Reserve Bank of India has admitted it has no confirmed data of the number or value of fake currencies detected since the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, a Right to Information (RTI) query has revealed.

"We presently don't have the confirmed data on this query," said a reply from the RBI's Department of Currency Management (Forged Note Vigilance Division), to prominent activist Anil V Galgali.

In a pointed query, Galgali had asked the RBI to provide details of the number or value of the fake currencies detected post-demonetisation, the name of the banks, dates etc between November 8 and December 10, 2016.

"However, the RBI has made it clear that nearly 11 weeks later, it has simply no data available on this crucial aspect. So the government's claims to demonetise as a weapon to kill fake currency is proving hollow," Galgali said.

He pointed out that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said that demonetisation would help wean out counterfeit currency notes and choke terror fundings.

"The RBI's replies make it obvious that the government has failed in this endeavour or raised the bogey of fake currencies merely to implement demonetisation. It's now up to the PM to declare the figure/value of counterfeit notes recovered, in national interest," Galgali said.