Lok Sabha Question No. 1225 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2021-07-27
Subject: Circulation of Fake Currency
Ministry: HOME AFFAIRS
Asked by: Hibi Eden

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1225

TO BE ANSWERED ON THE 27 TH  JULY, 2021/ SRAVANA 5, 1943 (SAKA)

CIRCULATION OF FAKE CURRENCY

1225.     SHRI HIBI EDEN:

Will the Minister of HOME AFFAIRS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether cases of production and circulation of fake currency has been reported in the country during last two years and the current year; if so, the details thereof, State/UT-wise;
- (b)  whether  the  Government  has  made  any  efforts  to  identify  sources  of entry  of  counterfeit  currency  in  the  country  from  neighbouring  countries and if so, the corrective steps being taken by the Government /the Reserve Bank of India to prevent circulation of fake currency notes in the country;
- (c)  the  total  number  of  persons  against  whom action has been taken for being involved in fake currency circulation during the said period;
- (d)  whether  the  Government/RBI  is  having  any  statistical  data  of  Fake Currency  Notes  and  the  steps  taken  by  the  Government  to  educate  the general public to identify the fake currencies;
- (e) the number of cases of High Quality Indian counterfeit currency cases being investigated by NIA; and
- (f) whether the Government proposes for speedy trial of people involved in cases of circulation of fake currency and enhance the current provision of punishment; if so, details thereof?

## ANSWER

MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI NITYANAND RAI)

(a) to (d): The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) is the nodal agency which compiles the data on crimes including fake currency as reported to

## L.S.US.Q. NO.1225 FOR 27.07.2021

it  by  States  and  Union  Territories  and  publishes  the  same  in  its  annual publication 'Crime in India'. The published reports are available till the year 2019. The State/UT-wise details of the Fake Indian Currency Notes seized, number of FIRs registered and number of accused during the years 2018 and 2019 are as per the Annexure.

The Intelligence and Security Agencies of Centre and State keep a close watch on the complete chain of illegal network involved in circulation of fake  currency  including  its  source,  ingress,  logistics,  perpetrators,  etc. and take appropriate action as per law.

The Government has taken various measures to check the smuggling and circulation of fake currencies into the country, which inter-alia, include:

- i. Counterfeiting of currency notes is an offence under Indian Penal  Code, 1860 {Section 489 (A-E)}. Further, production, smuggling or circulation of High Quality Fake Indian paper currency, coin or any other material has been made a terrorist act under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
- ii. FICN Coordination  Group  (FCORD)  has  been  formed  by  the  Ministry  of Home  Affairs  (MHA)  to  share  intelligence/information  amongst  the different security agencies of the States/Centre to counter the problem of circulation of fake currency notes in the country.

## L.S.US.Q. NO.1225 FOR 27.07.2021

- iii. A Terror Funding and Fake Currency Cell (TFFC) has been constituted in National investigation agency (NIA) to conduct focused investigation of Terror Funding and Fake Currency cases.
- iv. Security  at  the  international  borders  has  been  strengthened  by  using new surveillance technology, deploying additional manpower for round the clock surveillance, establishing observation posts along the international border, erection of border fencing and intensive patrolling.
- v. A  Memorandum of  Understanding  has  been  signed  between  India  and Bangladesh  to  prevent  and  counter  smuggling  &  circulation  of  Fake Currency Notes.
- vi. Training programmes are conducted for the officers of Bangladesh and Nepal  Police  to  develop  their  competence  in  the  areas  of  detection, investigation and effective prosecution of cases  relating to fake currency.

The  Reserve  Bank  of  India  has  taken  various  measures  including augmenting security features on bank notes so as to render counterfeiting difficult and expensive and running awareness programmes  for  membership  of  public  and  cash  handlers  so  as  to facilitate detection of counterfeit.

## L.S.US.Q. NO.1225 FOR 27.07.2021

(e): National  Investigation  Agency(NIA)  has  registered  22  cases  related to fake currency during the last two years. Out of these 22 cases, 12 cases pertain to seizure of High Quality Indian counterfeit currency.

(f): 48  special  Courts  have  been  established  across  the  country  for speedy  trial  of  the  cases  investigated    by  the  NIA,  including  the  fake currency cases.   The maximum punishment, for offences related to fake currency is up to life imprisonment.

* * * * *

## Cases Registered for Seizure of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) - 2018

| S.No               | State/UT           | No. of FICN Notes Seized   | Total Value (in Rs.)   | Total FIRs Registered   | Total No. of Accused   |
|--------------------|--------------------|----------------------------|------------------------|-------------------------|------------------------|
| 1                  | 2                  | 3                          | 4                      | 5                       | 6                      |
| STATES:            | STATES:            |                            |                        |                         |                        |
| 1                  | Andhra Pradesh     | 17493                      | 11128450               | 46                      | 94                     |
| 2                  | Arunachal Pradesh  | 0                          | 0                      | 0                       | 0                      |
| 3                  | Assam              | 6262                       | 2896280                | 35                      | 64                     |
| 4                  | Bihar              | 5707                       | 956750                 | 21                      | 46                     |
| 5                  | Chhattisgarh       | 4686                       | 1968200                | 36                      | 25                     |
| 6                  | Goa                | 0                          | 0                      | 0                       | 0                      |
| 7                  | Gujarat            | 28855                      | 12328672               | 67                      | 58                     |
| 8                  | Haryana            | 616                        | 463000                 | 6                       | 9                      |
| 9                  | Himachal Pradesh   | 336                        | 330200                 | 4                       | 8                      |
| 10                 | Jammu &Kashmir     | 868                        | 885500                 | 9                       | 0                      |
| 11                 | Jharkhand          | 0                          | 0                      | 0                       | 0                      |
| 12                 | Karnataka          | 14332                      | 17108300               | 28                      | 60                     |
| 13                 | Kerala             | 4872                       | 4210740                | 43                      | 66                     |
| 14                 | Madhya Pradesh     | 1609                       | 953810                 | 13                      | 33                     |
| 15                 | Maharashtra        | 20802                      | 11531970               | 44                      | 93                     |
| 16                 | Manipur            | 221                        | 62800                  | 1                       | 1                      |
| 17                 | Meghalaya          | 0                          | 0                      | 0                       | 0                      |
| 18                 | Mizoram            | 4260                       | 7370200                | 4                       | 1                      |
| 19                 | Nagaland           | 185                        | 104500                 | 5                       | 4                      |
| 20                 | Odisha             | 35                         | 6200                   | 4                       | 2                      |
| 21                 | Punjab             | 923                        | 614600                 | 15                      | 27                     |
| 22                 | Rajasthan          | 4610                       | 3966600                | 43                      | 30                     |
| 23                 | Sikkim             | 0                          | 0                      | 0                       | 0                      |
| 24                 | Tamil Nadu         | 24715                      | 28491710               | 72                      | 91                     |
| 25                 | Telangana          | 15231                      | 3261400                | 8                       | 20                     |
| 26                 | Tripura            | 8                          | 8500                   | 2                       | 3                      |
| 27                 | Uttar Pradesh      | 19109                      | 13328860               | 206                     | 68                     |
| 28                 | Uttarakhand        | 1075                       | 141200                 | 6                       | 4                      |
| 29                 | West Bengal        | 13109                      | 21095600               | 158                     | 187                    |
| TOTAL STATES       | TOTAL STATES       | 189919                     | 143214042              | 876                     | 994                    |
| UNION TERRITORIES: | UNION TERRITORIES: |                            |                        |                         |                        |
| 30                 | A &NIslands        | 0                          | 0                      | 0                       | 0                      |
| 31                 | Chandigarh         | 0                          | 0                      | 0                       | 0                      |
| 32                 | D &NHaveli         | 0                          | 0                      | 0                       | 0                      |
| 33                 | Daman &Diu         | 0                          | 0                      | 0                       | 0                      |
| 34                 | Delhi              | 67324                      | 36322950               | 38                      | 8                      |
| 35                 | Lakshadweep        | 0                          | 0                      | 0                       | 0                      |
| 36                 | Puducherry         | 0                          | 0                      | 0                       | 0                      |
| TOTAL UT(S)        |                    | 67324                      | 36322950               | 38                      | 8                      |
| TOTAL (ALL INDIA)  | TOTAL (ALL INDIA)  | 257243                     | 179536992              | 914                     | 1002                   |

## Cases Registered for Seizure of Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) - 2019

| S.No State/UT                 |   No. of FICN Notes Seized |   Total Value (in Rs.) |   Total FIRs Registered |   Total No. of Accused |
|-------------------------------|----------------------------|------------------------|-------------------------|------------------------|
| 1 2                           |                          3 |                      4 |                       5 |                      6 |
| 1 Andhra Pradesh              |                      40000 |               37085600 |                      30 |                     54 |
| 2 Arunachal Pradesh           |                          0 |                      0 |                       0 |                      0 |
| 3 Assam                       |                       1775 |                1217850 |                      12 |                     16 |
| 4 Bihar                       |                       2243 |                 843500 |                      17 |                     14 |
| 5 Chhattisgarh                |                       1116 |                 997650 |                      11 |                      7 |
| 6 Goa                         |                          0 |                      0 |                       0 |                      0 |
| 7 Gujarat                     |                      44580 |               37744010 |                      82 |                    114 |
| 8 Haryana                     |                        593 |                 103200 |                       2 |                      1 |
| 9 Himachal Pradesh            |                          0 |                      0 |                       2 |                      0 |
| 10 Jammu &Kashmir             |                       1811 |                 482500 |                       5 |                      0 |
| 11 Jharkhand                  |                          0 |                      0 |                       0 |                      0 |
| 12 Karnataka                  |                      26800 |               47826150 |                      30 |                     65 |
| 13 Kerala                     |                       6802 |                8343700 |                      29 |                     45 |
| 14 Madhya Pradesh             |                       3517 |                1742100 |                      18 |                     53 |
| 15 Maharashtra                |                      24245 |               19218450 |                      71 |                     79 |
| 16 Manipur                    |                          0 |                      0 |                       0 |                      0 |
| Meghalaya                     |                          0 |                      0 |                       0 |                      0 |
| 17 18 Mizoram                 |                       5492 |                6742000 |                       5 |                      9 |
| 19 Nagaland                   |                          0 |                      0 |                       0 |                      0 |
| 20 Odisha                     |                          0 |                      0 |                       0 |                      0 |
| 21 Punjab                     |                       9646 |                6030300 |                      23 |                     61 |
| 22 Rajasthan                  |                       7983 |                6165650 |                      54 |                     46 |
| 23 Sikkim                     |                          0 |                      0 |                       0 |                      0 |
| 24 Tamil Nadu                 |                      12699 |                9459860 |                      69 |                     88 |
| 25 Telangana                  |                        310 |                  81900 |                      12 |                     11 |
| 26 Tripura                    |                         31 |                  26600 |                       3 |                      3 |
| 27 Uttar Pradesh              |                      12976 |                7767810 |                      77 |                     44 |
| 28 Uttarakhand                |                         20 |                  10200 |                      14 |                      0 |
| 29 West Bengal                |                      24037 |               31743450 |                     217 |                    312 |
| National Investigation Agency |                        316 |                 158000 |                       5 |                      5 |
| TOTAL STATES                  |                     226992 |              223790480 |                     788 |                   1027 |
| 30 A &NIslands                |                          0 |                      0 |                       0 |                      0 |
| 31 Chandigarh                 |                          0 |                      0 |                       0 |                      0 |
| 32 D &NHaveli                 |                          0 |                      0 |                       0 |                      0 |
| 33 Daman &Diu                 |                          0 |                      0 |                       0 |                      0 |
| 34 Delhi                      |                      60384 |               30105950 |                      45 |                     17 |
| 35 Lakshadweep                |                          9 |                  10800 |                       1 |                      1 |
| 36 Puducherry                 |                         19 |                   1900 |                       1 |                      0 |
| TOTAL UT(S)                   |                      60412 |               30118650 |                      47 |                     18 |
| TOTAL (ALL INDIA)             |                     287404 |              253909130 |                     835 |                   1045 |