A local resident in Hyderabad approached the Vanasthalipuram police on Saturday and filed a complaint alleging that an ATM machine of the State Bank of India (SBI) had dispensed torn Rs 2,000 currency notes.
Taking to Twitter, Srikar Aditya uploaded images of the notes saying, "All 5 notes(Rs.10,000) (2000 denominations) withdrawn from SBI ATM at Vanasthalipuram are torn and unusable. Is SBI trying to cheat the public with such kind of notes? How do you even dare to put these notes in the ATMs with your sticker? The Cyberabad police must take necessary action for cheating public with such unusable notes."
All 5 notes(Rs.10000)(2000 denomistions) withdrawn from @TheOfficialSBI ATM at vanastalipuram are torn and unusable. Is @TheOfficialSBI trying to cheat the public with such kind of notes. How do you even dare to put in the ATMs with your sticker @TheOfficialSBI .(1/2) pic.twitter.com/rRDuPwIiyt
— Srikar Aditya (@Srikar_Aditya) May 11, 2018
The notes were also soiled with ink and smudged, which made them completely unusable.
“I was really shocked at the condition of the currency. Of the five Rs 2,000 notes, two notes were torn with one stickers tagged to it, two others were smeared with ink and some liquid and the other one had some letters and numbers missing on one side of the note. As none of the notes is useful, I tried to deposit the cash in the deposit machine but in vain,” Aditya was quoted as saying.
“I just waved the notes at the CC camera and walked out. With no idea on whom to approach, I went to a police station and lodged a complaint so that there would be some proof,” Aditya told one media outlet.
Responding to his tweet, SBI said, "Currency notes entered into ATMs are checked for quality and authenticity. Hence the chances of a mutilated note being disbursed from our ATM are negligible. Please note, you may exchange a mutilated note at any of our branches."
Currency notes entered into ATMs are checked for quality and authenticity. Hence the chances of a mutilated note being disbursed from our ATM are negligible. Please note, you may exchange a mutilated note at any of our branches.
— State Bank of India (@TheOfficialSBI) May 12, 2018
While the Vanasthalipuram police have not registered a case against SBI, they made a General Diary (GD) entry and said that they would pursue the case with officials from the bank's local branch.