De La Rue: We are not blacklisted in India, we don't supply printing currency to Pakistan, allegations false
De La Rue has strongly refuted as defamatory and malicious allegations about its business published in Indian media, saying it is “not supplying paper for printing of Indian currency and we are not associated with printing of currency in India at present in any form.”
Pointing out that De La Rue has received “no notice” nor is it aware that it is blacklisted in India, the top British company has asserted that it “does not supply currency paper, and is not printing currency for Pakistan and would never supply currency paper manufactured for one country to another.”
De La Rue further says that it is the “world’s leading commercial banknote printer supporting 140 countries. The company is listed on the London Stock Exchange, is a founder member of the Banknote Ethics Initiative and operates to the highest ethical standards.”
It adds, “De La Rue will take appropriate steps in India to protect its reputation as the trusted currency printer around the world.”
De La Rue's statement comes following several media stories published recently in relation to Reserve Bank of India (RBI) engaging with the British company De La Rue for supplying note printing equipment. These stories alleged the company is blacklisted.
Also sent to Counterview in response to a story quoting allegations in a site run by senior activist Teesta Setalvad, sabrangindia.in, De La Rue statement, issued through Karan Bhirani, executive, Brunswick Group, Mumbai, comes alongside Union finance minister Arun Jaitley saying that it is a "false campaign on the social media", accusing the Aam Aadmi Party for running it.
Jaitley tweeted, the "Ministry of Finance has no dealings with the British Company named in this campaign." The Union minister responded to the AAP press release which had said, “De La Rue was also investigated by United Kingdom’s Serious Fraud Office and it was found that the company’s employees had falsified specification test certificates for some of its clients. The company also finds mention in the Panama Papers for its alleged involvement in a money laundering scheme.”
“The Papers also revealed that De La Rue had paid a hefty commission to a New Delhi-based businessman to ensure that the company got the RBI’s contracts. De La Rue has proudly proclaimed itself to be the supplier for the Reserve Bank of India, and a partner of Narendra Modi’s Make In India policy”, AAP had said.
“The company was officially black-listed by the Reserve Bank for its fraudulent activities in February, 2011, however all records of the blacklisting appear to have now been pulled down from the website”, the AAP had continued.
AAP Delhi convener Dilip Pandey had said that De La Rue supplied the same paper used for printing Indian currency to the terror nexus in Pakistan indulging in printing of fake currency. "The company was not only white-listed after Modi came to power, but also partnering with the government on Modi's ambitious 'Make in India' project," he alleged.
"We want to ask Prime Minster Modi that why is he partnering with a company which is at the same time partnering with Pakistan, terror outfits, counterfeit currency printers and enemy of the nation," he had said.
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