The State Bank of India branch in Bhopal has told the farmers that the two Rs 2000 notes which they had collected from their branch were not fake. The image of Mahatma Gandhi was missing from the notes because of a "printing error", according to the media reports the farmers were told by the bank branch. 

The incident came to limelight when a farmer Krishna Meena from Bicchugavdi village was told by another farmer that a Rs 2000 rupee note which he posses does not have Mahatma Gandhi’s image. However, Meena did not notice the same when he received the note from the SBI bank branch.

“The incident took place at Shivpuri Road branch of SBI. The notes were not counterfeit, but probably there was some printing error. They were taken back as soon as it (the error) was detected," said Sheopur district manager of SBI, Akash Shrivastav. Shrawanlal Meena, manager of Shivpuri Road branch, elaborated: "The space meant for the picture is blank. We have taken the notes back." 

Currency notes with Mahatma Gandhi's picture were printed and issued by RBI from 1996 onwards. Since then, the 'Gandhi Series' of bank notes replaced all previous currency as legal tender.