Use of fake notes to be treated as terror act

Union home ministry proposes to include fake Indian currency notes (FICN) in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act

Alarmed by the rising use of fake currencies, the Union home ministry has decided to treat it as an act of terrorism.

Accordingly, it proposes to include FICN in the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, or UAPA, which entails more stringent provisions. Not only will it attract more punitive action, bail will also be more difficult to obtain.

Only terrorist organizations and people associated with them are currently covered under the Act.

Fake currency is among the “biggest threats” facing the country, said R.K. Singh, Union home secretary. That’s why “we are planning to include this in UAPA”.

Singh added: “FICN circulation is not done by local gangsters. The quality of (fake notes) suggest that state actors are behind it. These state actors are getting it executed through non-state actors.”

A Staff Writer