Para No

Particulars

1

Authority to impound Counterfeit Notes

2

Stamping and Impounding of the Counterfeit Note

3

Issue of Receipt to the Tenderer

4

Processing of Counterfeit Notes detected in cash tenders received by bank branch / Treasury - Lodging of FIR

5

Detection of Counterfeit Notes - Training of Staff

6

Examination of Banknotes before Issuing over Counters, feeding ATMs and remitting of Issue Offices of RBI

7

Establishment of Forged Notes Vigilance Cell at Head Office of the bank

8

Provision of Ultra-Violet Lamp and other
Infrastructure

9

Reporting of Data - (I) Bank branches (II) FNVC of the bank (III) Cooperative banks & RRBs

10

Preservation of Counterfeit Notes received from Police Authorities

Annex

Annex I

Annex II

Annex III

Annex IV

Annex V

Annex VI

Annex VII

Para 1

Authority to impound Counterfeit Notes

The Counterfeit Notes 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.

Para 2

Stamping and impounding of the counterfeit banknote

Each banknote, which, on examination of various security features / parameters, is determined as a counterfeit one, shall be branded with a stamp "COUNTERFEIT BANKNOTE". 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 / TREASURY/ SUB-TREASURY
BRANCH
SIGNATURE
DATE

Each such impounded note shall be recorded in a separate Register, under authentication.

Para 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 Annex 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.

Para 4

Processing of Counterfeit Notes detected in cash tenders received by bank branch/Treasury -Lodging of FIR

A Counterfeit Notedetected in the cash received by the bank branch/Treasury, across the counter shall be impounded in the presence of the tenderer, in the manner detailed in para 2 above. It shall be forwarded to local police authorities for investigation by filing the FIR (Annex II). A copy of the FIR shall be sent to the Forged Note Vigilance Cell constituted 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 Issue Office of RBI concerned. Particulars such as name, address of the tenderer and his / her statement as to how the said note came into his / her possession shall also be forwarded to police authorities.

FIR is required to be filed in respect of each case of detection of counterfeit note irrespective of the number of pieces and bonafides of the tenderer. Acknowledgement of Police authorities concerned has to be obtained in respect of note/s forwarded to them. If the Counterfeit Notes are sent to Police by insured post, acknowledgement of receipt thereof by the Police should be invariably obtained and kept on record. A proper follow-up of receipt of acknowledgement from the police authorities is necessary. In case of any difficulty 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 the Central Bureau of Investigation designated to coordinate matters relating to investigation of counterfeit banknote cases is enclosed as Annex VII
In no case, the Counterfeit Notes should be returned to the tenderer 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 notes at bank branches & treasuries should be included in the monthly returns forwarded to the RBI Issue Offices as indicated in para 9 below.

Para 5

Detection of Counterfeit Notes - Training of Staff

It is necessary to ensure that the cash handling Staff in bank branches / currency chests, and Treasuries / Sub-Treasuries is fully conversant with the security features of a banknote

With a view to educating the branch staff on detection of Counterfeit Notes, the design and security features of all the banknotes shown in Annex VI have been supplied to all the banks / treasuries with instructions to display them prominently at the branches for information of the public.

Para 5

The Controlling Offices / Training Centres may also organise / conduct-training programmes on the security features of banknotes for members of staff to enable detection of Counterfeit Notes at the point of receipt itself. If necessary, they may take assistance of the officers from the nearest Issue Office of RBI.

Para 6

Examination of banknotes before issuing over counters , feeding ATMs , and remitting to Issue Offices of RBI

With a view to ensuring detection of Counterfeit Notes, it is necessary that all the notes received at the branches are carefully examined. Currency Chest branches / other bank branches, which are equipped with Note Sorting Machines (NSMs) should necessarily process all the notes received especially Rs.100 and above denomination. It must further be ensured that in no case, the Counterfeit Notes are mixed up, even inadvertently, in the cash issued to the public or remittances sent to other bank branches / RBI offices.

In order to obviate complaints regarding receipt of Counterfeit Notes through ATMs, and to curb circulation of counterfeits it is imperative to put in place adequate safeguards/checks before loading ATMs with notes. The Government of India and the National Security Council has taken a view that dispensation of Counterfeit Notes through the ATMs would be construed as an attempt to circulate the Counterfeit Notes by the bank concerned.

Detection of counterfeits in chest remittances is also liable to be construed as wilful involvement of the chest branches concerned in circulating Counterfeit Notes and may attract special investigation by police authorities, and other action like suspending the operation of the chest concerned. RBI may consider the option of levying higher penal interest for the amount of forged notes detected in the chest remittances, from the date of last removal of soiled notes from the respective chests.

Para 7

Establishment of Forged Note Vigilance Cell at Head Office of the bank

Each bank shall establish at its Head Office, a Forged (Counterfeit) Note Vigilance Cell to undertake the following functions:

1. Dissemination of RBI instructions on Counterfeit Notes to their branches.
2. Monitoring the implementation of these instructions.
3. Compilation of data on detection of Counterfeit Notes, and its submission to RBI and NCRB, as per the extant instructions.
4. Follow-up of cases of Counterfeit Notes, with Police Authorities / designated nodal officer.
   
5. Sharing of the information thus compiled with bank’s CVO and report to him / her all cases of acceptance / issue of Counterfeit Notes over the counters.
6. Conducting periodic surprise checks at currency chests where shortages/ defective /Counterfeit Notes etc are detected.
7. Ensuring operation of Note Sorting Machines of appropriate capacity at all the currency chests and closely monitor the detection of Counterfeit Notes at currency chest branches.
8. Ensuring that only properly sorted and examined banknotes are fed into the ATMs and to put in place adequate safeguards including surprise checks both during the processing and in transit of notes.

Forged Note Vigilance Cell shall submit a Status Report covering the aforesaid aspects to the Chief General Manager, Department of Currency Management, Reserve Bank of India, Central Office, Amar Building, Fourth Floor, Sir P. M. Road, Fort, Mumbai 400001, on a quarterly basis, within a fortnight from conclusion of the quarter under report.

With a view to updating the record of the addresses of the Forged Note Vigilance Cells, the bank shall furnish by e-mail, in the prescribed proforma (Annex III), the address etc. particulars to RBI every year, as on 1st July

Para 8

Provision of ultra-violet lamps & other infrastructure

With a view to facilitating the detection of Counterfeit Notes, all bank branches / treasuries should be equipped with ultra-violet lamps. All currency chest branches should be equipped with verification, processing and sorting machines (Note Sorting Machines) of appropriate capacity, and should be used to their optimum capacity, setting software parameters to effectively segregate fit and unfit notes. The banks shall maintain a daily record of the notes processed through the Note Sorting machines, including the number of counterfeits detected. The banks may also consider providing other branches with verification, processing and sorting machines of appropriate capacity for segregating soiled and suspected banknotes from bulk receipts as also at least one counting machine (with dual display facility) for public use at the counter.

Para 9

I Reporting of data by bank branches

Data on Counterfeit Notes detected by all the branches of the bank shall be reported in the prescribed format, on a monthly Basis A statement as per Annex IV - (modified from the earlier format, incorporating the name of the State / UT where the branch operates) showing the details of Counterfeit Notes 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

Para 9

A nil report may be sent in case no counterfeit has been detected during the month

II Reporting of data by the Forged note Vigilance Cell of the bank

Forged Note Vigilance Cell set up at the Head Office of the bank (other than Cooperative and Regional Rural Banks) shall submit a monthly return reflecting data on Counterfeit Notes detected by the bank, on an all-India basis in a prescribed profoma as per Annex V before the end of the succeeding month, by e-mail to Department of Currency Management, Reserve Bank of India, Central Office on the following address: - dcmfnvd@rbi.org.in

No hard copy need be sent

A "nil" report may be sent in case no counterfeit has been detected during the month

III Reporting of data by Cooperative Banks and Regional Rural Banks

Data on Counterfeit Notes detected by branches of Cooperative Banks and Regional Rural Banks should be furnished on monthly basis to the respective Issue Office of RBI as per the Annex IV.

Data on an all-India basis should be compiled at the Head Office of the bank on monthly basis as per the Annex V and furnished to Reserve Bank of India only when called for.

Para 10

Preservation of Counterfeit Notes received from police authorities

All Counterfeit Notes received back from the police authorities may be carefully preserved in the safe custody of the bank and a record thereof be maintained by the branch concerned. Forged Note Vigilance Cell of the bank shall also maintain a branch-wise consolidated record of such Counterfeit Notes. These Counterfeit Notes at branches should be subjected to verification on a half-yearly basis (on 31st March and 30th September) by the Officer-in- Charge of the branch concerned. These Counterfeit Notes should be preserved for a period of three years from the date of receipt from the police authorities.

The Counterfeit Notes may thereafter be sent to the concerned Issue Office of Reserve Bank of India, with full details.

The Counterfeit Notes, which are the subject matter of litigation in the court of law, should be preserved permanently, with the branch concerned.

Series

Number of pieces

Value

A

Denomination

B

Name & address of the tenderer

C

Our Entry No.

FORMAT FOR FURNISHING ADDRESS ETC. PARTICULARS OF FORGED NOTE

VIGILANCE CELL (FNVC) TO RBI

(TO BE FURNISHED BY E-MAIL ON 1ST JULY EVERY YEAR)

REF: MASTER CIRCULAR DATED JULY1, 2008 ISSUED BY RBI

NAME OF THE BANK

ADDRESS OF FNVC(WITH PIN CODE)

NAME AND DESIGNATION OF OFFICER-IN-CHARGE

TELEPHONE NO (WITH CODE).

FAX NO.(WITH CODE)

E-mail Address of the FNVC

We note to intimate immediately the changes, if any, in the particulars furnished above

Name of Authorised Official

Designation

Date

NB:: The  completed format should be transmitted by e-mail, in MS-Exel  on the following address-

dcmfnvd@rbi.org.in

Denominations

Total
Pieces

Total
Value

Name of the State / UT where the branch is situated

Rs.10

Rs.20

Rs.50

Rs.100

Rs.500

Rs.1000

Pending with Police at the beginning of the month

Sent to Police during the month under report

Pending with the Police at the end of the month

No. of cases

No. of pieces

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 Yeejle 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.

2005

-do-

The portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, the multidirectional lines, and an electrotype mark showing the denominational numeral 500 appear in this section and these can be viewed better when the banknote is hel against light.

Machine-readable windowed demetalised clear text magnetic security thread with inscriptions `Bharat’ (in Hindi) and RBI on notes of Rs.500 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 – 3 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, Ashoka Pillar Emblem on the left, RBI Governor’s signature. A circle 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.

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, SkeÀ npeej jghe³e, 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 `Yeejle 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.

2005

- do -

The portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, the multidirectional lines, and an electrotype mark showing the denominational numeral 1000 appear in this section and these can be viewed better when the banknote is held against light

Machine-readable windowed demetalised clear text magnetic security thread with inscriptions `Bharat’ (in Hindi) and RBI on notes of Rs.1000 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 – 3 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, Ashoka Pillar Emblem on the left, RBI Governor’s signature. A diamond 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.

SR.NO.

STATE

NODAL OFFICER (FICN)

TELEPHONE NO.

1

Assam

Sh. D. K. Bora, IPS, IGP, CID, Assam, Guwahati

2

Andhra Pradesh

Sh. Sandeep Shandilya, IPS, DIG, CID, AP, Hyderabad

3

Andaman & Nicobar

Sh. V. P. Pandey, Dy. SP, CID, Aberdeen Bazaar, Port Blair, South Andaman District, A & N Islands 0 744 101

03192-233307 (0)
03192-200746(WLL)
03192-233307(Fax)

4

Arunachal Pradesh

Sh. N. Payeng, IPS, DIG/PHQ, Itanagar

0360 – 2212734

5

Bihar

Sh. B.S. Jayant, IG, EOW, CID, Bihar, Patna

0612 – 2217829

6

Chandigarh

Sh. Prabodh Kumar, IGP/Crime, EOW

2740179 (O)

7

Chattisgarh

Sh. Raj Kumar Devangarn, IPS, AIGP, SCRB

0771 – 4240045

8

Daman & Diu

9

Dadara Nagar Haweli, Silvasa

Sh. V.R. Jethwa, Chief of Police, Silvasa

0262 – 2642002

10

Delhi

11

Goa

Sh. Chandrakant S. Salgaonkar, Dy. Supdt. of Police, Crime Branch, Donapaula, Goa.

2456688
09422387199

12

Gujarat

Sh. Anil Pratham, IPS, DIG (Crime-3), O/o Addl. DGP, CID (Crime and Railways), Gujarat State, Police Bhavan, 5th floor, Sector-18, Gandhi Nagar, Gujarat.

079-23254385, 23254387 (O) 079-23257545 (F)
cor.crime@gujarat.gov.in

13

Himachal Pradesh

Sh. O.C. Thakur, IPS, IGP, CID, HP, Shimla

0177 – 2622205
0177 – 2623224 (Fax)

14

Haryana

Sh. S.S. Deswal, IPS, IGP, Crime PHQ, Sector-6, Panchkula, Haryana

0172-2565595 (O)

15

J & K

Sh. Dilbag Singh, IGP, IGP, Crime and Railways, J & K, Jammu,
Srinagar

0191 – 2572475 (O)
0191 - 2574210 (O)
0194 - 2473803

16

Jharkhand

Sh. R. C. Kaithal, Addl.DG of Police, CID, Jharkhand, Ranchi

0651 – 2490546 (O)
0651 - 2490377 (Fax)
094311 14106 (M)

17

Karnataka

Sh. M. R. Pujar, IPS, IGP, EO/COD, HQ, Carlton Road, Palace Road, Bangalore – 560 001

080-22254871, 22942241

18

Kerala

Sh. Varghese, Dy. SP, CFS

2443446 (O)

19

Lakshadweep

Sh. Girish Chandra Dwivedi, SP

04896 – 262258
262624 (F)

20

Madhya Pradesh

Sh. R. P. Singh, DIG, PHQ, EOW Jahangirabad, MP

0755 – 2443569

21

Maharashtra

Sh. K.P. Raghuvanshi, Addl. DGP, MS, Railways, holding charge of Jt. CP, ATS, MS, Mumbai

022 – 23087336
022 - 23012471

22

Manipur

Sh. L.M. Khaute, IPS
IGP (Int.), Manipur, Imphal

Tel No.0385 – 2450575
Fax No.0385 – 2450575
e-mail igp.int@hub.nic.in
igpint@hotmail.com

23

Meghayala

Sh. S. Kynging, AIG (Admn) Shillong

2226790 (O)
2220839 (F)

24

Mizoram

Sh. K. Amona, SP, CID (Crime ) Aizawal

2334082
2334082 (Fax)

25

Nagaland

Sh. L.L. Dongel, DIG, Modernisation

2241369 (O)
2244274 (F)

26

Orissa

Sh. B.K. Sharma, IPS, IGP, CID, CB, Orissa, Cuttack

0671 – 2304834

27

Pondicherry

Sh. R. Mugam, SP, CID, HQ

0413-2338684 (O)
9443209104

28

Punjab

Sh. Gurdial Singh, PPS, SP, EOW, Punjab

29

Rajasthan

Sh. A. Ponnuchami, IPS, DIG (EOW), CID, (CB), Rajasthan, Jaipur

0141 – 2751952
0141 – 2753326 (Fax)

30

Sikkim

Sh.D.B. Thapa, SP, Crime Branch, PHQ,Gangtok, Sikkim

03592 – 204297 (Fax)
03592 – 202087 (O)

31

Tamil Nadu

Supt. of Police, CB, CID (Hqrs), Chennai

32

Tripura

Sh. Rakesh Ranjan,IGP, Intelligence

2323207 (O)
2324970 (F)

33

Uttar Pradesh

Sh. Devi Prasad Srivastav, Addl. SP, EOW, 5th floor, Indira Bhawan, Ashok Marg, Lucknow – 226001

0522 – 2287090
2287256

34

Uttranchal

S. Jeevan Chandra Pandey, DIG, CID

0135 – 2712685 (O)
0135 – 2712080 (F)

35

West Bengal

Sh.Bhupinder Singh, ADGP/CID, Kolkata

033 – 24791330 (O)