Rs. 1 lakh fake notes found in Bank

Fake notes worth Rs. one lakh in Rs. 1,000 denomination were found in the Chamundipuram branch of Syndicate Bank on JLB Road here yesterday.

The Bank's Manager In-charge Prabhu, in a complaint lodged with K.R. Police, said that the bundle was found to be one among the four deposited by their customer M.K. Shivakumar.

M.K. Shivakumar, son of Chennappa, resident of Yadahalli village in Jayapura taluk, had deposited Rs. 4 lakh, the amount he received for selling his land, at the bank at 10.30 am and got his pass book entry updated.

"The cashier, after counting the four bundles in the electronic machine and checking them, gave me receipt. The transaction was also entered in the Bank's computer records and in the pass book," said Shivakumar and added, "after 45 minutes of leaving the Bank, the Bank Manager telephoned me and without revealing anything, asked me to return to the Bank immediately. When I went there, he made an allegation that the notes in one of the bundles was fake."

Shivakumar further alleged that the Manager snatched away the receipt issued earlier for Rs. 4 lakh and issued a new one for Rs. 3 lakh. Even the passbook entry was corrected, Shivakumar said and complained to the Police that he was being cheated by the Bank staff as the cashier had earlier checked the currency notes for more than five minutes and barely 45 minutes later, accused him of depositing the counterfeit notes.

However, the Bank Manager told the Police, "the currency notes were counted meticulously but due to heavy workload, their authenticity could not be checked immediately. When another staff checked the notes later, they were found to be fake."

K.R. Police Inspector Shanthamallappa, after registering a case, booked Shivakumar.

Sub-Inspector Ashok today said that Shivakumar was quizzed till late night to find out the source of the fake notes. He was later released. "We will call him again for further interrogation to find out who gave him the notes," he added.

Manager clarifies

Bank Manager U.V. Kini today said that when summoned to the Bank yesterday, Shivakumar requested us to burn the fake notes.

"He wanted us to issue receipt for only Rs. 3 lakh. We have mentioned this in our complaint lodged with the Police," he added.