'Missing currency mystery unsolved'

The case of the missing notes from the Bharatiya Reserve Bank Note Mudran (BRBNM) has remained unsolved though five months have passed since the incident.

The management is not cooperating with the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), BRBNM Employees' union president and former MLA A Ramadas has alleged.

Currency notes amounting to Rs 50 lakh went missing while being transported from Mysore to Thiruvananthapuram. The CBI has been investigating the missing note case since August 1.

Charging the management of going slow in co-operating with the CBI investigations, the former BJP MLA told a press conference on January 10 that while the employees were extending full co-operation by undergoing polygraph and other tests, some important senior officers continued to function in the RBI currency printing press.

The management had suspended a few workers, including two union leaders and framed chargesheets against them. It had not responded positively so far to the union's demand for revocation of their suspension.

The continuation of senior officials, who, the former MLA said are accountable for the missing currency, may mislead the CBI.

He recalled that at a conciliatiory meeting, the management had promised the assistant labour commissioner (central), Bangalore that the inquiry would be completed within 10 days.

But, very little action has been forthcoming, and the probe was being delayed. The workers, therefore, were apprehensive that the management may scuttle the probe.