Finance Ministry denies collaborating with 'tainted' UK-based company

The department of Economic Affairs of the Ministry of Finance released a press statement on Tuesday and came clear on the allegations of 'compromising national interest by collaborating with a tainted UK-based Note Printing Company'.

"No fresh contract has been given to this company by the Government during the last three years. The Security Clearance for this company has been withheld by the Ministry of Finance and hence no fresh orders have been placed with the said company since 2014. The company has applied for setting up a factory in India. No action has been taken on their application," the statement said.

The said company had been supplying bank note paper till 2010. Further as per the decision taken in 2013, the company was permitted to supply a security feature for bank notes till December 2015.

Earlier in the day, the Congress had charged the Government with compromising with national interest by shortlisting a tainted UK-based Note Printing Company for printing of plastic notes in India.

"A tainted UK-based note printing company De La Rue has been shortlisted for printing of plastic notes in India despite it being blacklisted. It shows complicity at the highest level," former Kerala Chief Minister Oomen Chandy had told reporters at AICC headquarters.