Diwali Cleaning Uncovers Rs 2 Lakh in Old ₹2,000 Notes Hidden in Set-Top Box — Internet Buzzing Over the Discovery
Diwali Cleaning Uncovers Rs 2 Lakh in Old ₹2,000 Notes Hidden in Set-Top Box — Internet Buzzing Over the Discovery
As families across India prepare for the festival of lights, Diwali cleaning often reveals long-lost socks, missing remotes, or perhaps an old photo album. But one household’s pre-festival cleanup turned into an unexpected treasure hunt when they stumbled upon a forgotten stash of discontinued currency.
A Reddit user recently shared a rather unusual yet fascinating story titled “Biggest Diwali Safai of 2025”, where he revealed that his mother discovered ₹2 lakh in old ₹2,000 notes hidden inside a disused DTH set-top box. According to the post, the money was most likely tucked away by his father during the demonetisation period — and forgotten ever since.
“During Diwali safai, my mom found ₹2 lakh in old 2000-rupee notes… hidden inside an old DTH box probably kept there by my desi dad back in demonetisation times. We haven’t told him yet. And please suggest how to proceed further,” the user wrote, sparking curiosity and surprise among Redditors.
The post was accompanied by a photo of the neatly bundled currency, instantly catching the attention of users across the platform. The image, showing rows of crisp purple notes, triggered a wave of nostalgia, financial advice, and light-hearted banter.
One commenter said, “I would probably save a note or two; it could be sold in the future as an antique piece. You can try asking RBI if anything can be done but I think other than being an antique piece it can’t be anything else.” Another user suggested a more practical approach: “Gather your trustworthy friends, distribute 5k, 10k, 20k randomly and one day after another go to RBI and exchange it and transfer that amount in your bank account from them.” A third pointed out an important detail: “They are still a legal tender despite being phased out. You can get them exchanged only at designated RBI offices with 20K limit.”
As per RBI’s announcement in 2023, ₹2,000 notes were withdrawn from circulation, and a limited window was provided for people to deposit or exchange them. However, they remain legal tender, meaning the notes still technically hold value — but can only be exchanged under specific conditions at designated RBI branches.
For this family, what started as a routine festive cleaning turned into a lesson in saving and surprises. In older times, people often stored their savings in the most unusual hiding spots — from rice containers to false ceilings. This set-top box, clearly once meant for entertainment, ended up becoming a miniature vault. The user is now faced with a dilemma many didn’t expect in 2025 — how to safely convert this forgotten fortune, and perhaps, how to break the news to dad!
