Woman finds hidden stash of demonetised Rs 500, Rs 1000 notes during Diwali cleaning. Viral video

In an unexpected twist to Diwali cleaning, a woman’s shocking discovery of a hidden stash of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes has ignited a frenzy on social media, racking up a staggering 22 million views on Instagram. The incident, shared by user Deepti Gaba with the caption “What just happened,” showcases the moment of astonishment when she unearthed the now-invalid currency she had saved years ago, unbeknownst to her husband.

In her viral video, the woman is visibly astounded as she reveals the hidden cash from a plastic bag, which has been kept a secret for years. “What do I do with these?” she asks, with several comments from users who faced similar situations since the demonetisation of high-value notes in 2016.

A torrent of reactions and advice followed the viral video. “It’s been 8 years since demonetisation,” one user commented, while another suggested, “Keep it; in the future, these notes will be counted as antique notes, and you could see a 50x return from their face value. Take it as an investment.”

Others chimed in with personal anecdotes, like one user who recalled, “My mom hid 50k, and they were found one year after demonetisation. Still with us.”

Some viewers advised the woman to approach the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for guidance on the possibility of exchanging the obsolete notes.