Reserve Bank on Tuesday asked people not to fall prey to rumours circulating that banks would not accept banknotes with scribbling from January 1, 2014.

 “In the wake of rumours circulating in the market that from January 1, 2014, banks will not accept banknotes with anything written on them, the RBI has urged members of public not to fall prey to such rumours and to use their banknotes without any fear,” RBI said in a notification.

RBI said it has not issued any such instructions.

However, in an earlier clarification, it had instructed only banks to ask their staff not to scribble or write on the body on the banknotes.

“…it was observed that the bank officials themselves were in the habit of writing on banknotes which went against the RBIs Clean Note Policy.”

Reiterating that writing or scribbling on banknotes works against its Clean Note Policy, RBI has also sought cooperation from all members of public, institutions and others in keeping the banknotes clean by not writing/scribbling anything on them.