Last Updated: November 01, 2023, 23:51 IST
ED began interrogation on Wednesday. (News18)
During the interrogation, the two-member team of EoW examined their identity-related documents and asked them about the source of the money and who gave them the currency notes for exchange
Amid allegations that some influential individuals might have engaged people to get the discontinued Rs 2,000 notes exchanged, a team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Economic Offences Wing (EOW) on Wednesday questioned those lined up in front of the regional office of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) in Bhubaneswar.
This comes a day after a long queue was spotted in front of RBI Bhubaneswar for exchanging Rs 2000 currency notes. A team of the EOW immediately reached the spot and questioned the people standing in the queue.
During the interrogation, the two-member team of EoW examined their identity-related documents and asked them about the source of the money and who gave them the currency notes for exchange.
“After getting information we are verifying at the spot. Details will be revealed after the probe,” an EOW officer said
“We came to exchange Rs 2,000 notes. I will get Rs 200-300 for exchanging 10 Rs 2,000 notes. We stand in queues to get wages and exchange money. We do not know who is the owner” said one of the workers lined up in the queue.
As per the information, most of the people in the queues were carrying exactly 10 pieces of Rs 2,000 notes. Some of them admitted to have been standing for exchange of notes at a commission of Rs 200-300. Even if they don’t know about the source of the money.
On the other hand, the RBI authorities said that they are exchanging the notes by following guidelines.
“More than 700 people are depositing money every day. More than one and a half crores have been deposited in the last 7 days. Money is being kept from people as per law. The documents of those who are depositing money are being checked. Everyone is being under CCTV Surveillance,” RBI Regional Director Sarada Prasanna Mohanty said.
Notably, suspicion had risen over Tuesday’s queue as each of them was carrying Rs 20,000 in denomination of Rs 2000 for exchange.