No, you cannot deposit Indian rupees into an NRE account. The only way to fund an NRE account is via foreign currency remittance, foreign currency deposit when you visit India, or via foreign currency traveler's cheque. Since the NRE saving account is at par with the FCNR deposit, this is the restriction they have imposed. This also means that you cannot ask your friends, relatives, and parents to transfer money to your NRE account. I think the only way to transfer Indian rupees into an NRE account is by transferring money from your NRO account.
