There are no news reports or press releases about any new Rs 500 banknotes.
Ahead of the inauguration of Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, images purportedly showing Rs 500 banknotes featuring Lord Ram replacing Mahatma Gandhi have surfaced online. Earlier, rumours were circulating that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) would release these notes on January 22, aligning with the grand consecration ceremony of the Ram Temple. However, it’s important to note that these rumours have been debunked, and there is no factual basis for the issuance of such notes.
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The fake notes feature Ayodhya’s Ram Mandir in place of the Red Fort, and an image of a bow and an arrow. Originally shared by an X user named Raghun Murthy on January 14, 2024, the images gained traction, and fake claims were circulated all over the internet. Realising the consequence, the user clarified all the rumours, urging people to not misuse his creative work to spread misinformation.
Taking to his X handle, the user wrote, “Someone has misused my creative work to spread misinformation on Twitter. I want to clarify that I do not support or own any of the misinformation they have attributed to my work. It’s important to me that my creativity is not misrepresented in any way.”
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Another X user quoted a post on the banknotes with the viral claim and mentioned, “Edited by my friend @raghunmurthy07, this piece is a product of creativity and not intended to be presented as notes. Please refrain from spreading misinformation.”
While the statement is enough to refute the claims, upon close examination, one can easily spot several discrepancies that further assert that the images are digitally altered. From the areas around the images of Lord Rama and the temple being blurry to the watermark of ‘X Raghunmurthy 07’ near the bottom left corner of the notes, all these indicate the manipulation of the image.
Furthermore, it is important to note that the official website of the Reserve Bank of India does not contain any formal details or updates pertaining to the viral claim in question.
