AAP's allegations 'defamatory and malicious': De La Rue

A day after the AAP accused the Central government of partnering with allegedly blacklisted Britain-based banknote manufacturer De La Rue, the company on Friday refuted the charges calling them "defamatory and malicious".

"De La Rue categorically refutes the defamatory and malicious allegations about its business published in Indian media. De La Rue is not supplying paper for printing of Indian currency, and we are not associated with printing of currency in India at present in any form," a company statement said.

It added the company was not aware that it was blacklisted in India as it received no such communication.

The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Thursday accused the Narendra Modi government of compromising national security by partnering with De La Rue, which AAP alleged was earlier blacklisted for working with a fake currency nexus based out of Pakistan.

AAP Delhi convener Dilip Pandey alleged that the new Rs 2,000 note is also being printed on paper supplied by De La Rue.

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley had also denied the allegations and said the Ministry of Finance had no dealings with the said British company.

In its statement, the security printing and papermaking company said it does not supply currency paper and is not printing currency for Pakistan and "would never supply currency paper manufactured for one country to another".

"De La Rue is the world's leading commercial banknote printer supporting 140 countries. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange, is a founder member of the Banknote Ethics Initiative and operates to the highest ethical standards.

"De La Rue will take appropriate steps in India to protect its reputation as the trusted currency printer around the world," it added.

--IANS

vv/vd/bg