Serina

MADURAI: The Rs. 30 lakh seized by the police in the Serina case did not carry the improved security features introduced by the Reserve Bank of India. The Currency Note Press, Nashik, therefore wants this currency to be sent to the Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran Private Limited (BRBNMPL), Mysore, to ascertain its genuineness.

In a requisition to the Finance Ministry, CNP authorities said this would throw more light on the case and clear all doubts.

Security features

The authorities said the improved security features were imprinted on high denomination notes carrying the signature of Reserve Bank of India Governor Y.V. Reddy during 2005. The money seized from Serina's house was printed in 2003 and lacked the improved security features, including `inset letter' beneath the series and numerals.

The Rs. 1,000 denomination notes had `inset letters' to identify the source of printing. For instance, `A' to `D' series pointed to BRBNMPL, while `L' to `Q' series specified CNP, Nashik. Advising Income Tax officials to carefully examine and confirm the inset letters, the CNP officials said the printing press concerned should be contacted for further verification.

"Discrepancies"

The issue pertains to a complaint lodged by the IT officials here that there were "discrepancies" in the cash seized in the Serina case. Based on RBI records, the IT officials said serial numbers of currency amounting to Rs. 30 lakh (of the Rs. 1.4 crore seized) had not been let into circulation when it was seized in Madurai. Though the RBI and bank officials checked the currency, they could not find any discrepancy to suspect that it was fake.

Moreover, the notes also cleared the ultra violet ray test.

The case was handed over to the Crime Branch Criminal Investigation Department (CB-CID) that had sought custody of the money through the court for further investigation.

A nationalised bank, where the cash has been deposited, handed over Rs. 80 lakh to the court on Thursday.

The remaining is likely to be given on Monday.

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