Shillong, May 19: Customers have accused several city banks of distributing notes marked “fake” yet neatly stapled in bundles of higher denominations.

Manoj, resident of Mawprem, said he had found a note marked “fake” by the Canara Bank, Shillong, in a bundle of Rs 100 notes.

“After withdrawing the money from the bank, I had kept it for a month without realising that one of the notes was fake,” Manoj said.

Sources said several people had complaints that they had received fake notes, mostly of the Rs 500 denomination, from banks. Employees of the audit and accounts office also complained that they had received notes marked fake in their salary packs.

Deputy commissioner of East Khasi Hills D.P. Wahlang told The Telegraph today that “the offence, if proved, could be serious and a case could be framed under Section 420 IPC”.

He added that those who received such notes should bring the “entire stapled bundle” to the police before filing an FIR.

Wahlang said though it would be difficult to trace the origin of the fake currencies, the banks should be more careful while arranging the notes. “However, we must have a proper complaint to take action,” he said.

Manager of the Canara Bank K. Chongloi said his bank would not take responsibility if the bundle containing the fake note was broken and the bank stickers were removed. He added that a customer’s claim would be entertained only if a fake note was detected near the cash counter from where the payment had been made. Chongloi also denied the possibility of any employee’s involvement in the racket.

“It is not possible as we destroy all fake notes as soon as they are detected,” he claimed.

Bank managers and other senior officials, when contacted, admitted that if notes “marked fake” were found in stapled bundles, it was a serious offence. However, they said the customer had to report such anomalies to the cashier immediately after the delivery of the notes. “Normally such notes, when detected, are destroyed immediately and it is rather unfortunate that fake notes, specially those marked and certified as fake, should be found in stapled sets,” said a State Bank of India officer.