Bhubaneswar: Long queues outside the Reserve Bank of India Bhubaneswar during the last few days to deposit/exchange Rs 2000 currency notes have led the Odisha Police’s Economic Offence Wing (EOW) sleuths to probe whether those standing in the queue are genuine customers or have been hired by other people on a commission basis.
According to reports, some businessmen and brokers are hiring daily wage earners to stand in queues to exchange Rs 2000 currency notes for them. In return, these daily wage earners are allegedly being given a payment of Rs 300 per day for exchanging each Rs 2000 note. A section of the media reported that this was a novel way for some businessmen to convert their black money into white.
Acting on the allegations, a two-member EOW team reached the RBI Bhubaneswar and questioned people standing in the queue on the source of the Rs 2000 notes and other details. The EOW team also checked the Aadhaar Cards and other identification papers of those in the queue.
A team of Enforcement Directorate (ED) also verfied the documents and questioned the customers queuing up infront of the RBI.
On Tuesday, Bhubaneswar RBI officials told the media that they were accepting deposits of Rs 2000 currency notes and also exchanging them after verifying the identity of the depositors on the directives of the Union Finance Ministry. Each person is permitted to deposit/exchange a maximum of 10 Rs 2000 currency notes at a time. When asked about the allegations regarding some people trying to use the opportunity to convert their black money into white, the RBI authorities here said that ‘it was for the probe agencies to find out’.
It is worth mentioning here that the RBI had granted an extension for the exchange/ deposit of Rs 2000 banknotes, originally taken out of circulation on May 19, 2023. The deadline for the withdrawal process was initially set for September 30, 2023. However, in a recent review, the RBI has decided to extend the period until October 7, 2023. Individuals who have not yet exchanged or deposited their Rs 2000 notes still have the opportunity to do so until a new deadline is announced.
