"Did the government took enough preparations to ensure supply of lower denomination of currency notes before taking the important decision (to demonetise higher currency notes)?, he asked.
"Modi has failed to ensure this, and it has put common people in great distress," he told reporters on the sidelines of a function here.
However, there were no second thoughts over the intention of the move, Krishna said.
"This is shocking and a disturbing development. From where these new notes came from, this is a million dollar question. Dealing with such officials should not end in mere suspension. There has to be more severe punishment," he said.
In one of the biggest seizures of new currency, the Income Tax department on December one confiscated Rs 5 crore in searches in their premises here.