Detection and Impounding of Counterfeit Banknotes- Updated Master Circular (2005) - આરબીઆઈ - Reserve Bank of India
Detection and Impounding of Counterfeit Banknotes- Updated Master Circular (2005)
RBI/2005-06/173
DCM.(FNVD) No.G.15/16.01.01/2005-06
September 30, 2005
Ashwina 8, 1927 (Saka)
The Chairman/Managing Director, All Commercial/Co-operative Banks/ RRBs/Private Banks/Foreign Banks &
Director of Treasuries of all States.
Dear Sir/Madam,
Detection and Impounding of Counterfeit Banknotes- Updated Master Circular (2005)
As you are aware, in order to enable the banks to have all the existing instructions on the subject at one place, the Reserve Bank of India had issued a Master Circular on August 31, 2004, containing guidelines/instructions to banks and Treasuries /Sub-Treasuries on the procedure to be followed in dealing with counterfeit banknotes detected at the counters of bank branches or treasury/sub-treasury offices. The referred Master Circular has now been updated incorporating further instructions issued till date and is enclosed herewith.
Yours faithfully,
(R.Muralidharan)
General Manager
CONTENTS
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Counterfeit Banknotes detected in Cash Tenders received by the branch |
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MASTER CIRCULAR DETECTION AND IMPOUNDING OF COUNTERFEIT BANKNOTES
1. Authority to impound counterfeit banknotes
The counterfeit banknotes can be impounded by -
i. all branches of public sector banks
ii. all branches of private sector banks & foreign banks
iii. all branches of co-operative banks & regional rural banks
iv. all treasuries and Sub-treasuries
v. all RBI Issue Offices.
2. Stamping on the counterfeit banknote
Each banknote, which is suspected to be counterfeit or is found to be counterfeit, shall be branded with a stamp ‘COUNTERFEIT BANKNOTE’ and impounded. For this purpose, a stamp with a uniform size of 5 cm x 5 cm with the following inscription may be used.
/COUNTERFEIT BANKNOTE IMPOUNDED/ BANK / BRANCH / SIGNATURE/ DATE |
3. Issue of Receipt to the Tenderer:
When a banknote tendered at the counter of RBI Issue Office or a bank branch or treasury is found to be counterfeit, an acknowledgement receipt in the format as per Annexure I should be issued to the tenderer, after stamping the note as in paragraph 2 ibid. The receipt, in running serial numbers, should be in duplicate and should be authenticated by the cashier as well as by the tenderer. Notice to this effect should be displayed prominently at the offices / branches for the information of the public. Acknowledgement receipt may be issued even in cases where the tenderer is unwilling to countersign the receipt.
4. Counterfeit banknotes detected in cash tenders received by the branch
The counterfeit banknotes detected in the cash received by the branch shall be forwarded to local police for investigation by filing the FIR (Annexure II). A copy of the FIR shall be sent to the Forged (Counterfeit) Banknote Vigilance Cell at the Head Office of the bank (only in the case of banks) and in the case of the Treasury, it should be sent to the concerned Issue Office of RBI. Particulars such as name, address of the tenderer and his /her statement as to how the said banknote came into his / her possession shall also be forwarded to police authorities. FIRs are required to be filed in respect of all cases of detection of counterfeit banknotes, including one or two pieces detected in cash tendered by individuals whose bonafides are not suspect. If the counterfeit banknotes are sent to Police by insured post, acknowledgement of receipt thereof by the Police should be invariably obtained and kept on record. In case of any difficulty, if any, faced by the Offices/Branches due to reluctance of the Police to accept FIRs, the matter may be sorted out in consultation with the Nodal Officer of the State concerned. A list of Nodal Officers of State Police Forces designated to coordinate matters relating to investigation of counterfeit banknote cases is enclosed as Annexure V. In no case, the counterfeit banknotes should be returned to the tenderers or destroyed by the bank branches / treasuries. In case of suspected foreign currency note received for opinion from police/government agencies, etc., the sender may be advised to forward the same to the Interpol Wing of the CBI, New Delhi after prior consultation. The definition of `counterfeiting’ in the Indian Penal Code covers currency notes issued by a foreign government authority as well. The data on detection of counterfeit Indian banknotes at bank branches & treasuries should be included in the monthly returns forwarded to the RBI Issue Offices as shown in para 9 below.
5. Guidelines on detection of counterfeit banknotes
With a view to educating the branch staff on detection of counterfeit banknotes, the design and security features of all the banknotes shown in Annexure IV have been supplied to all the banks / treasuries with instructions to display them prominently at the branches for information of the public. The Controlling Offices/Training Centres may also organise/conduct training programmes on the security features of banknotes. If necessary, they may take help of the officers from the nearest Issue Office of RBI.
With a view to ensuring detection of counterfeit banknotes, it is necessary that all the notes received at the branches are carefully examined. It must further be ensured that in no case, the counterfeit banknotes are mixed up, even inadvertently, in the cash issued to the public or remittances sent to other bank branches/RBI offices. Banks should ensure that they stock their ATMs with good quality genuine banknotes only. Disbursement of counterfeit banknotes through the ATMs would be treated as an attempt to circulate the counterfeit banknotes by the bank concerned. Further, bank branches / currency chests / treasuries are expected to detect counterfeit banknotes at their end and not to include them in the remittances sent to RBI Offices. RBI may consider the option of imposing penalty for the value of counterfeit banknotes detected in the remittances received from the currency chests from the date of last removal of soiled notes from them.
7. Establishment of Forged Note Vigilance Cell at Head Office of the bank
Each bank shall establish at its Head Office, a Forged (Counterfeit) Banknote Vigilance Cell to undertake the following functions:
1. To disseminate RBI instructions on counterfeit banknotes to the branches.
2. To monitor the implementation of these instructions.
3. To compile the centralised data on monthly basis on the counterfeit banknotes detected at their branches and report the same to RBI & NCRB in the enclosed format (Annexure III).
4. Share the information thus compiled with bank’s CVO and report to him/her all cases of acceptance /issue of counterfeit banknotes over the counters.
5. To coordinate with the designated nodal officer.
8. Provision of ultra-violet lamps & other infrastructure
With a view to facilitating the detection of counterfeit banknotes, all bank branches/ treasuries may be equipped with ultra-violet lamps. All currency chest branches should be equipped with verification, processing and sorting machines already conveyed to banks. The banks may also consider providing other branches with verification, processing and sorting machines of appropriate capacity for segregating soiled and suspected counterfeit bnaknotes from bulk receipts as also at least one counting machine (with dual display facility ) for public use at the counter.
9. Data compilation and submission of returns
A statement as per Annexure III – (modified from the earlier format, incorporating the name of the State/UT where the branch operates) showing the details of counterfeit banknotes detected in the bank branches during the month shall be compiled and forwarded to the following offices so as to reach them by 7th of the next month :
i. Concerned Issue Office of RBI
ii. Asstt. Director, National Crime Records Bureau, Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, East Block-7, R.K. Puram, New Delhi-110 066
Acknowledgement Receipt to be issued to the tenderer of counterfeit banknotes
(Name of the Bank ) Address of the Bank Branch
Serial Number:- Date: The note(s) described below received from …………………………………….. ……………………………………………………………………………………… (name and address of the tenderer) is/are counterfeit and has/have therefore been impounded and stamped accordingly. Sl.No. of the Note Denomination
(Signature of the tenderer ) (Signature of the counter cashier )
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Name & Address of the bank branch
Ref. No. Date :
The Sr. Inspector of Police,
___________Police Station,
_____________________
Dear Sir,
Detection of counterfeit banknote/s - Request for investigation
We enclose the following counterfeit banknotes detected in our office on ________. The name and address of the tenderer together with his statement is furnished.
2. Since the bonafides of the tenderer are suspect he is also being handed over to you. As the printing and/or circulation of forged Indian currency notes is an offence under Sections 489A to 489E of the Indian Penal Code, we request you to conduct the necessary investigation and bring the culprits to book. In case it is decided to file criminal proceedings in the court of law, you may first arrange to send the notes to the General Manager, Bank Note Press, Dewas (Madhya Pradesh) or General Manager, Currency Note Press, Nashik (Maharashtra) for examination. The expert opinion furnished by the Dewas/ Nashik Press may be produced in the court as evidence under Section 292 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The forged notes may please be returned to us after the completion of the investigation and/or proceedings in the court of law along with the detailed report of the investigation/decision of the court.
Details of Counterfeit Banknote/s
Series |
Number of pieces |
Value |
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A |
Denomination |
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B |
Name & address of the tenderer |
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C |
Our Entry No. |
Yours faithfully,
Manager/Assistant General Manager
Name & Address of the bank branch
Statement showing the details of counterfeit banknotes detected in the
branch during the month of _______________
- Denomination-wise Details
Denominations |
Total Pcs. |
Total Value |
Name of the State/UT where the branch is situated |
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Rs.10 |
Rs.20 |
Rs.50 |
Rs.100 |
Rs.500 |
Rs.1000 |
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B) Details of cases filed with police
i. No. of cases pending with police at the beginning of the month
ii. No. of cases sent to police during the month
iii. No. of cases returned by the police during the month
iv. No. of cases pending with police at the end of the month
Forwarded to :-
1. The General Manager/Deputy General Manager, Reserve Bank of India, Issue Department, ____________
2. The Assistant Director, National Crime Records Bureau, Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, East Block-VII, R.K. Puram, New Delhi-110 066.
(Signature)
Name & Designation of the Authorised Official
Designs of bank notes issued by the Reserve Bank of India since 1967
Year |
Size |
Watermark |
Front |
Back
|
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I. Rs.10 notes |
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1967 |
137x63mm |
Ashoka Pillar |
Purple colour. Numeral 10 in the centre. |
Value of the note in 14 languages. The oval seascape with country craft. |
|
1968 |
-do- |
-do- |
Blue black colour. Promise clause, guarantee clause and signature printed in bilingual. |
-do- RBI’s name in Hindi added. |
|
1969 |
-do- |
-do- |
Blue Black colour. ‘Ten Rupees’ instead of ‘Rupees Ten’. |
Mahatma Gandhi’s Portrait. |
|
1970 |
-do- |
Ashoka Pillar with spinning wheels. |
Hindi version of RBI incorporated in place of English and vice versa. Hindi rendering of Guarantee clause, promise clause and Governor’s signature have been interchanged. ‘¬¸÷¡¸Ÿ¸½¨¸ ¸¡¸÷¸½’ incorporated. Watermark window and numbering panel enlarged. |
Bilingual seal incorporated |
|
1975 |
-do- |
-do- |
Dark brown, umber and blue colour. Numeral ‘10’ printed in dark brown. Intaglio printing. Languages scroll on left and Ashoka Pillar emblem on right. |
Pale brown, Ochre blue and green colour. A circle with two Peacocks on branch of a tree. Deer, horses, bird and lotus. |
|
1992 |
-do- |
-do- |
Overall colour scheme in pale pink, magneta and yellow |
Shalimar garden |
|
1996
|
-do- |
Portrait of Mahatma |
Overall colour scheme in mauve brown, orange and pink. |
Intricate guilloche and floral patterns |
|
Gandhi with multidirectional lines in the watermark window. |
Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi. Embedded security thread containing the words "žøø£÷ø RBI’ readable on both sides when held against light. |
with profiles of an elephant,rhinoceros and tiger’s faces. Value of note in 15 Indian languages. |
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II. Rs.20 notes |
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1972 |
147X63mm |
Ashoka Pillar |
Saffron colour . Ashoka Pillar emblem on the right and language panel on the left side. |
Bold lettering in Hindi appears centrally in a horizontal panel, flanked by figures 20 at the corner. Picture of Parliament House. On the left value in Indian languages |
|
1975 |
-do- |
Small Ashoka Pillar with chain of spinning wheels. Resin treated paper |
Red, blue, mauve and pale yellow colour. Numerical 20 in dark mauve on a light yellow lotus shaped design. Language scroll on the left and Ashoka Pillar emblem on right. The printing bleeds off on all sides but not in corners which are paper white. Bilingual names, clauses and signature. |
Dry offset printing. Red, blue and mauve colour. Chariot wheel of Konark Sun temple at the centre. Watermark window in pale blue is surrounded by an ornamental design in perfect register with corresponding design on obverse of the note. |
|
2001 |
-do- |
Mahatma Gandhi Portrait |
The security thread totally embedded with the letters 'Bharat' (in Hindi) and 'RBI' The colour is predominantly reddish orange. The Ashoka Pillar has been replaced by the Mahatma Gandhi's Portrait in dark red while the Ashoka Pillar has been shifted to the left side bottom corner and the size is smaller. The numeral 20, RBI seal, Mahatma Gandhi's Portrait, RBI Legend, Guarantee and Promise clauses, Governor's Signature and Ashoka Pillar inset are in intaglio. The words RBI and the numeral 20 in Micro letters appear alternatively behind the Mahatma Gandhi's Portrait. An identification mark by way of a small vertical rectangle in raised form appears on the left side of the note to facilitate the visually impaired to identify the denomination of the note. The numbers in the number panel are printed in red. |
The central theme depicts the Indian coastal line with coconut grooves. The value of the note appears in 15 languages in a vertical panel in the left hand side. |
|
III. Rs.50 notes |
|||||
1975 |
147X73mm |
Ashoka Pillar with chain of wheels. |
Mauve colour with hues of blue green and purple. Numeral 50 in dark brown. Language scroll on left and Ashoka Pillar emblem on right. Printing bleeds off on all sides except at corners. |
Mauve, brown and yellow colours. Parliament House at the centre. Watermark window in pale mauve, surrounded by an ornamental design which is in perfect register with corresponding design on the obverse. |
|
1981 |
Do |
-do- |
Intaglio-fast blue, yellow red. Ashoka Pillar and languages in deep violet colours, rest in deep green and brown colours. below Ashoka Pillar emblem. |
Dry offset-yellowish brown and body in deep purple colour. Parliament House with National flag on top |
|
1997 |
-do- |
Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi with multidirectional lines in the window. |
Yellow, blue and violet colour. Ashoka Pillar replaced by Mahatma Gandhi Portrait in blue. Security thread totally embedded inside the note the letters ‘žøø£÷ø’ and 'RBI’. A small black solid square on the left hand side of the watermark to help the visually impaired to identify the denomination of the note. |
A panoramic view of India’s Parliament House with floral patterns above and filigree patterns on the sides. The value of the note in 15 Indian languages. |
|
2005 |
-do- |
Electrolyte watermark of denomina-tional numeral located alongside the existing Mahatma Gandhi Watermark |
Machine readable windowed demetalised clear text magnetic security thread with inscriptions `Bharat’ (in Hindi) and RBI which fluoresces in yellow on both sides under U.V.light –width 1.4 mm. The Intaglio Printing i.e.raised prints is more prominent in the name of the Bank in Hindi and English, the Reserve Bank Seal, guarantee and promise clause, Ahsoka Pillar Emblem on the left, RBI Governor’s signature. A square in intaglio on the left of the watermark window with increased depth of engraving helps the visually impaired to identify the denomination Optical fibres are in dual colour. The small floral design printed both on the front (hollow) and back(filled up) of the banknote in the middle of the vertical band next to the watermark window has an accurate back to back registration so that the numeral appears as one when seen against the light.. |
Year of printing is incorporated at the printing stage on the reverse of the banknote. |
|
IV.Rs.100 notes |
|||||
1967 |
157X73mm |
Ashoka Pillar |
Blue colour. Numeral 100 appears prominently in centre. Ashoka Pillar emblem on the right. |
Vertical panel of 14 Indian languages on left. Hirakud Dam in the background in a circular frame.
|
|
1969 |
-do- |
-do- |
Blue colour and promise clause, Guarantee clause and Governor's signature in bilingual. |
Picture of Mahatma Gandhi in a sitting posture with Sevagram Ashram in the background in a circular frame. |
|
1975 |
-do- |
Ashoka Pillar with spinning wheels. |
Intaglio deep blue with hues of blue, brown, pink and dark green. Numeral 100 in dark blue. Watermark window light blue. RBI's name, promise clause, Guarantee clause and Governor's signature in bilingual. Language scroll on left and Ashoka Pillar emblem on right. Printing bleeds off on all sides except at corners. |
Intaglio deep blue and brown shade of corn, agricultural operations, Tea plantation and hydro electric power project. `Watermark’ window is surrounded by an ornamental design which is in perfect register with similar design on the obverse. |
|
1979 |
-do- |
-do- |
One side intaglio blue, red and deep green, Tints of reddish and yellowish green shade. below Ashoka Pillar emblem. |
Dry-offset. Black and maroon colours. Tint design in greenish blue and brownish shades. |
|
2005 |
-do- |
Electrolyte watermark of denominational numeral located alongside the existing Mahatma Gandhi Watermark. |
Machine readable windowed demetalised clear text magnetic security thread with inscriptions `Bharat’ (in Hindi) and RBI on notes of Rs.100 with exclusive colour shift. Colour of the thread shall shift from green to blue when viewed from different angles. It will fluoresce in yellow on the reverse and the text will fluoresce on the obverse under U.V.light –width – 2 m.m. The Intaglio Printing i.e.raised prints is more prominent in the name of the Bank in Hindi and English, the Reserve Bank Seal, guarantee and promise clause, Ahsoka Pillar Emblem on the left, RBI Governor’s signature. A square in intaglio on the left of the watermark window with increased depth of engraving helps the visually impaired to identify the denomination Optical fibres are in dual colour. The small floral design printed both on the front (hollow) and back(filled up) of the banknote in the middle of the vertical band next to the watermark window has an accurate back to back registration so that the numeral appears as one when seen against the light. |
Year of printing is incorporated at the printing stage on the reverse of the banknote. |
|
V. Rs.500 notes |
|||||
1987 |
167X73mm |
Ashoka Pillar with spinning wheels. |
Printed by dry offset and intaglio process. Background colours in peacock blue, ochre and green. Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, Ashoka Pillar emblem, Promise clause & language panel are printed in intaglio. Five black horizontal relief lines in intaglio on the left side of the watermark to help the visually impaired to identify the denomination of the note. |
Background showing rising sun. Background colours in deep green, orange and sky blue. Mahatma Gandhi leading a group of people. |
|
1997 |
-do- |
Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi with the multidirectional lines in the watermark window. |
Printed by offset and intaglio process. Colour scheme is predominantly in yellow, green, mauve and brown. Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait is dark brown in colour. Mahatma Gandhi's portrait, RBI legend guarantee and promise clauses, Ashoka Pillar inset and Governor’s signature are in intaglio. A windowed security thread, partly visible from the front but totally embedded inside. Letters žøø£÷ø and RBI are printed on the thread. Green vertical band behind the Mahatma Gandhi portrait where latent image of 500 is printed. A small black solid circle in intaglio on the left hand side of the watermark to help the visually impaired to identify the denomination of the note. |
Mahatma Gandhi leading a group of people in brown colour with floral patterns appearing above and filigree patterns on each side of this theme. A vertical panel of 15 languages appear on the left. All the above features are in intaglio. |
|
2000 |
-do- |
-do- |
The colours are predominantly mild yellow, mauve and brown. Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait is in light brown. Numeral 500 printed in Optically Variable Ink (OVI) in Green to Blue colour shift. Except these changes, other designs are same as of 1997 series notes. |
The design is the same as is on the 1997 series note. |
|
VI. Rs.1000/- notes |
|||||
2000 |
177X73mm |
Portrait of Mahatma Gandhi with multidirectional lines in the watermark window. |
Colour is generally pink (light peach colour with grey offset background). Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait is brown in colour. Mahatma Gandhi’s portrait, numeral 1000, RBI seal, RBI legend, guarantee and promise clause, Governor’s signature are in intaglio printing. Left hand number panel in red colour and right hand number panel in blue colour. Numeral 1000 printed in Optically Variable Ink (OVI) in Green to Blue colour shift. Optically variable (colour shifting) windowed security thread with magnetic property and containing text 1000 RBI'. Green vertical band behind the Mahatma Gandhi portrait where latent image of 1000 is printed. A small black solid diamond shape mark in intaglio on the left hand side of the watermark to help the visually impaired to identify the denomination of the note. |
The theme depicts the overall development of the Indian economy in three colour intaglio. The 15 language panel is on the left side. |
List of Nodal Officers – State-wise for monitoring FICNs
RBI Offices |
States/U.T.s covered |
Name & Address of Nodal Officers |
Tel.Fax. Nos. |
Ahmedabad |
Gujarat |
ADGP(CID), Crime & Railways, |
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Daman & Diu |
A.I.G.(P), Jt.Secy (Home), daman |
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Bangalore |
Karnataka |
Shri K.S.Suresh Babu, IGP(EOW), CID HQs, Carlton House, Palace Road, Bangalore-560 001 |
080-2254871 |
Belapur/Mumbai |
Maharashtra |
Shri Jayant Umranikar, |
|
Goa |
Sr.S.P., CID(CB), Panaji |
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Bhopal |
Madhya Pradesh |
DIGP (HQ), Forged Currency Note Cell, |
0755-2443569(O) |
Bhubaneswar |
Orissa |
Shri A.P.Patnaik, ADGP, CID, Cuttack. |
|
Chandigarh |
Himachal Pradesh |
Office of ADGE, CID, Shimla |
Nil |
Haryana |
Shri K.Selvaraj, DIG(Crime), CID |
0172-565595(O) |
|
Punjab |
Shri Mann Singh, AIGP, Crime, Chandigarh |
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Chennai |
Tamil Nadu |
Shri Sandeep Rai Rathore, SP, |
044-25395449(O) |
Pondicherry |
Shri Firoze Zia Hussain, |
0413-2338604 |
|
Guwahati |
Arunachal Pradesh |
DIGP(HQ), Arunachal Pradesh, |
0360-2212735(O) |
Assam |
Shri R.N.Mathur, ADGP/CID, Ulubari, |
0361-2529157(O) |
|
Manipur |
Shri L.K.Haokip, SP, |
0385-2221501(O) |
|
Meghalaya |
Shri R.P.agrawal, DIG/ACB/CID |
0364-2223737 |
|
Mizoram |
Shri Satyendra Garg, SP, |
Nil |
|
Nagaland |
Office of IGP, Crime, |
Nil |
|
Tripura |
DIG, CID |
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Hyderabad |
Andhra Pradesh |
Shri Umesh Sharaf, |
|
Jammu |
J & K |
IGP, Crime & Railways, Crime HQs, |
0191-2572721(O) |
Jaipur |
Rajasthan |
Shri M.L.Sharma, IG. CID, Crime Branch,
|
0141-603266(O) |
Kanpur & Lucknow |
Uttar Pradesh |
Shri V.K.Jain, IGP, EOW(Spl.Cell), |
0522-2287256 |
Uttaranchal |
Shri Alok B.Lal, IGP, |
0135-2712563(O) |
|
Kolkata |
West Bengal |
Shri N.Mukherjee, IPA, IGP(II), (Nodal Agency:Criminal Investigation Deptt. |
033-24792955(O) |
Andaman & Nicobar |
Shri D.P.Singh, Dy.Inspector of Police, CID Unit, Port Blair. |
03192-233307(O) |
|
Sikkim |
IGP, Crime Branch, CID, Police HQs, Gangtok, Sikkim |
03592-223098 |
|
Nagpur |
Chattisgarh |
Counterfeit Currency Cell, |
0771-2331228 |
New Delhi |
Delhi |
ACP/CRO, Delhi |
|
Patna |
Bihar |
Shri Manoj Nath, I.D., CID. |
Nil |
Jharkhand |
Shri Umesh Kumar Singh, SP, (EOW). CID, |
2490295(O) |
|
Thiruvananthapuram |
Kerala |
Smt B.Sandhya, DIG (Crime) |
0471-2335246(R) |
Lakshadweep |
Supdt. Of Police, UT of Lakshadweep, P.O.Kavaratti-682 555 |
04896-262750(O) |
|
B.S.F. |
Shri R.S.Tiwari, I.G.(G), BSF, New Delhi |
011-24360016 |
Banks/Offices may update the names and addresses of Nodal Officers from time to time by directly contacting the State Police authorities.