The Indian rupee plummeted by 48 paise to 53 rupees 45 paise againstthe US dollar in early trade today.The fall was due to sustained month-end demand for the Americancurrency from importers and some banks, amid weakness in the domesticstock market.The domestic currency had closed 5 paise higher at 52 rupees 97 paiseper US dollar at the Interbank Foreign Exchange yesterday.