Demonetisation: RBI says no data on 500- and 1,000-notes used at fuel pumps

Immediately after note ban, govt had allowed exchange of junked currency at banks, and its use as payment for 23 utility services, including fuel purchases

In reply to an RTI query, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) said it has no data on the old 500- and 1,000-rupee notes used to pay for utility bills such as fuel at petrol pumps, which are believed to have formed a good part of the demonetised currency that returned to the banking system.

After the November 8, 2016 shock decision to ban the use of old 500- and 1,000-rupee notes, the government had allowed the exchange of the junked notes as well as they being used for payment of utility bills for 23 services.

Both 500- and 1,000-rupee