Pak prints ‘Maharma’ instead of Mahatma on fake India notes

BHOPAL: Authorities of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and intelligence agencies are baffled by the flawless counterfeit currency churned out by Pakistan, which were seized from a former national wrestling player on Sunday.
Senior bank officers and cashiers of nationalised banks had a tough time to conclude that fake Indian currency notes (FICNs) seized from the wrestler-turned cop, Zahoor Khan, were fake as they matched all security features, including watermark, thread, latent image, intaglio, identification mark, fluorescence and optically variable ink.The only deviation was a spelling error left deliberately, say investigators.
Khan, who worked with special armed forces in 1981 as a constable was nabbed by Habibganj police on basis of a specific intelligence input.
When FICNs with face value of Rs 5.60 lakh (in Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denominations) were confiscated from a false bottom of his bag, investigators were amazed by its flawless quality.
After failing to distinguish between fake and original, a sample was sent to RBI officials. After close examination, RBI reported that currencies seized from Khan were fake, but of best quality they ever came across, said an official.
RBI pointed out the only flaw in Khan’s currencies was a mistake in the micro-letter ‘Mahatma’ (in Hindi) printed below Mahatma Gandhi’s picture. In the fake notes, its ‘Maharma’ in Hindi instead of ‘Mahatma’. And the mistake, officials claim, was deliberately left by its Pakistani manufactures.
These currencies were brought from Malda and Murshidabad, which share border with Bangladesh and have emerged as main supply route.
Khan told interrogators he had bought the notes on 50:50 ratio, which means one fake of Rs 500 for Rs 250 in genuine currency. He said he had been circulating counterfeits since 2005 and had visited Malda five times. National Investigating Agency (NIA) has been tipped-off as the key supplier is still on the run.
Inspector general of police, Bhopal zone, Yogesh Choudhary said accused Khan, 51, a native of Ashta in Sehore district, was arrested from railway station premises. Accused has also been charged under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act.
According to records available with criminal investigation department, counterfeit currency with face value of Rs 6,34,200 were seized in state since January 2012.