MP demands treason charges against currency counterfeiters

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: Rajya Sabha member of BJP, Ajeet Gopchade has raised the demand in Parliament that treason among other charges be invoked in crimes related to the production of fake currency notes.Gopchade emphasised the need for a joint task force comprising the Reserve Bank of India (RBI), the National Investigation Agency (NIA), and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) to investigate these crimes, citing historical links between counterfeit networks and terrorism."There is a gradual increase in the circulation of counterfeit Indian currency, particularly in smaller denominations like Rs200, Rs100, Rs50, and Rs20," Gopchade said. "These notes are quietly spreading through small cities, towns, villages, and local markets, causing direct financial harm to common citizens."The MP noted a strategic shift in how counterfeiters operate. Rather than flooding the market with large quantities of high-value notes, they are now releasing small batches of lower denominations to evade detection."The greatest burden is borne by the poor, farmers, laborers, and small shopkeepers who still rely heavily on cash transactions," he said. "A tragic situation arises when an honest citizen unknowingly accepts a fake note. When they attempt to do the right thing by taking it to a bank or the police, their money is simply confiscated, leaving them at a total loss."To address this, Gopchade proposed a multi-pronged strategy. He suggested that the govt should provide a 100% refund to citizens who voluntarily report counterfeit currency. This measure, he argued, would encourage transparency and reporting without the fear of financial penalty."Banks must implement a simple and fast reporting system for fake currency," he added. "To stay ahead of counterfeiters, the security features of our currency notes should be updated every eight to ten years."Gopchade, who hails from the Nanded district of Marathwada, also advocated for the integration of modern technology in border security. He recommended the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and advanced scanning systems at national borders to intercept counterfeit currency before it enters the domestic market.