The on-going investigation of Special Cell of Delhi police which has untangled the Pakistani links in the trafficking of high-quality Fake Indian Currency Notes (FICN) has upset the Indian security establishment.
ISI Agents Copies Hi-Tech Rs 2,000 Fake Notes
The major concern is the surprising fact that Pakistan-based crime-syndicates have been able to copy the most limited security features that are in Rs 2000 Indian currency notes, an exploit which is surely not possible without the involvement of the state technology.
This is for the first time that the FICN has been seized by Special Cell which proves that ‘Optical Variable Ink’ used by India in printing Rs 2000 notes has also been used by the operatives from Pakistan.
In a statement by an official of the Special Cell to IANS stated that, “It’s a very high quality special ink, which gives a colour shift effect. On the front side of Rs 2000 note, the colour of thread changes from green to blue when the note is tilted,”
As per to some sources, the hi-tech Optical Variable Ink is used in the new series of fake notes, apparently being printed at Pakistan security press in Malir Halt, located in Karachi.
Some other sources said that for the duration of investigation it was discovered that under the supervision of senior officials of Pakistan’s spy agency, the Inter Services Intelligence (ISI) the notes are being printed.
It is one of the most prominent distributors of ISI and is also India’s most wanted fugitive Dawood Ibrahim’s infamous D-company, which also functions from Karachi.
The investigation discloses that an additional prominent security feature has been copied by ISI operatives for the first time which comprises of the raised bleed lines that are printed on the extreme left and right side of the note. These raised lines are basically the identification marks, that are meant for the visually impaired people. India did not have such hi-tech security features six months back.
The official said, “They have now even copied the exploding series numbers printed on the right hand bottom of the notes. For instance, in newly seized Rs 2000 notes, bearing series ‘7FK’ the series is printed in exploded formation. Hitherto, these features were absent on FICN, enabling anyone to detect them with naked eyes”
After demonetisation which was held in the year 2016, the circulation of FICNs from Pakistan has remained nearly closed for a long period. On the other hand, this year in the first week of June, a huge consignment of FICN that accounts to Rs 7.67 crore was detained by Nepal police at Tribhuwan Airport in Kathmandu. The seizure of such a big amount alarmed the agencies in New Delhi as for the first time, the batch incoming from Karachi through Qatar carried high quality FICN.
“The latest seizure of notes made by Special Cell has a more upgraded version of FICN. It seems that Optical Variable Ink, is being smuggled through the connivance of the state-run printing press in Pakistan from a multi-national company which supplies this ink only to federal governments. It is a serious security breach,” said an official of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence.
