Police in Karnataka’s Uttara Kannada district were thrown into a brief state of alarm after bundles of suspicious ₹500 notes were discovered in a rented house in Dandeli’s Gandhinagar area. The surprise find occurred during a raid on Tuesday evening, following a specific tip-off.
At first glance, the seized notes resembled counterfeit currency, prompting concern. However, closer inspection revealed several glaring discrepancies: the notes lacked a Reserve Bank of India seal, the RBI Governor’s signature, serial numbers, and instead, bore the phrase “for film shooting purposes only” on the reverse side.
Further baffling officers was the label “Reverse Bank of India” printed where the issuing authority’s name should be. The notes were printed on shiny paper and contained zeroes instead of proper denomination figures.
“There is no serial number on it, and therefore, it cannot be officially categorized as counterfeit currency,” a senior police officer told India Today. “But verification is ongoing.”
Alongside the bundles of fake-looking notes, a money-counting machine was also seized from the house. The tenant has been taken into custody for questioning as authorities continue to investigate the origin and intended use of the film prop currency.
