Fake notes on Bangladesh stamp paper set off alarm

KOLKATA: Security Forces (BSF) were recently shocked to find that Bangladesh 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 (FICN) printed on stamp paper were of ‘good’ quality and copied most 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.

If the seizure of fake currency within a few weeks of demonetisation shocked agencies such as BSF and police, the discovery that it was printed on stamp paper has come as a double whammy.

“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. The FICN seized is of good quality and difficult to tell from the bonafide ones,” 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.

“It seems that Bangladesh soil is used to manufacture counterfeit notes that is sneaked into India, mostly through Malda. However, we are also aware that a section of the notes are still being made in Pakistan, which is of the best quality and almost similar to real notes,” said a senior BSF officer.

In the ₹2,000 notes seized from Malda (printed in Bangladesh) about 10 of the 17 security features have been copied, including the design, colour pattern, number pattern, see through water mark, portrait of Mahatma Gandhi, Swachh Bharat logo and slogan, motif of Mangalayan (reflecting India’s first venture into interplanetary space).

There are deeper implications — it is impossible to procure stamp paper in bulk except without active cooperation of a section of government employees.

“If one has to buy a stamp paper in Bangladesh, one has to reveal identity, similar to the process in India. So if the counterfeiters have to ensure a regular and bulk supply of the stamp paper, it is not possible without the collusion with a section of the government employees,” a source said.