Fake notes on B’desh stamp paper set off alarm

KOLKATA: The Border Security Forces (BSF) recently found that Bangladeshi stamp paper — printed only in government presses — was used for counterfeiting Indian notes that were smuggled in bulk into the country through Bengal after demonetisation. The fake Indian currency notes printed on stamp paper were of ‘good’ quality and copied most of the security features of the bonafide currency.

Earlier, fake Indian currency was printed in Pakistan and most of it was routed into India through the Bangladesh-Bengal border. BSF has already sent a report from Bengal to its headquarters in Delhi, alerting them of the discovery.

“Experts have told us the fake notes were made using Bangladeshi stamp paper. The texture of the paper is good. Many of the security features have been successfully copied,” PSR Anjaneyulu, inspector general of BSF (South Bengal) told HT.

Shariful Shah, 32, who was arrested on February 19 in Malda with 48 fake notes of ₹2,000, has admitted that he got the notes from Chapai Nawabganj in Bangladesh, which is just across the border in Malda.