In response to the RBI’s decision to phase out ₹2,000 notes, the general public has been given until September 30 to deposit or exchange their existing notes. However, as the deposit window opened this week, certain individuals with malicious intent have attempted to exploit the situation. One such incident occurred in Agra, Uttar Pradesh, where a man was apprehended after trying to deposit counterfeit ₹2,000 notes at a local State Bank of India (SBI) branch.
Reports indicate that the accused deposited ₹2.85 crore at the SBI branch on Tuesday, out of which 13 ₹2,000 notes were discovered to be counterfeit. Bank officials also alleged that the same individual had previously deposited cash at the branch, with three of those notes also being fake. Following a complaint filed by the bank manager, the accused was subsequently arrested by the police.
While announcing the withdrawal of ₹2,000 notes, the RBI clarified that they would remain legal tender even after September 30 but encouraged individuals to deposit or exchange them before the deadline. Initially, banks, including SBI, had stated that customers would need to provide identification proof when depositing ₹2,000 notes. However, this requirement was later retracted following criticism.