How did India's Modi pull off bold rupee shake-up?

Mumbai

MONTHS of planning by a select few sworn to secrecy and then cash-laden trucks on the streets. But this was no bank robbery - rather an audacious plan to issue new notes across India.

There are 1.25 billion people in India but only a handful were aware that on Tuesday night Prime Minister Narendra Modi would announce the shock withdrawal of 500 (S$10.54) and 1,000 rupee notes from circulation.