Fake stamp papers worth `107 cr seized in Bihar

In a major haul of fake stamp papers reminiscent of the scandal by Abdul Karim Telgi a decade ago, Bihar police seized counterfeit judicial papers with a face value of Rs 107 crore and arrested 16 people from various places in Patna district. 

Senior superintendent of police Manu Maharaj told reporters on Wednesday that a police team raided an apartment in Patrakarnagar police station area here and seized fake judicial papers with a face value of Rs Rs two crore following specific information. 

The mastermind Ranjit Kumar, who hails from Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, along with three others were arrested during the operation last night, he said. 

A bigger haul of fake stamp papers with a face value of a whopping Rs 100 crore were seized by another team of policemen during searches in yet another house at Khemnichak area conducted following informations given by the gangsters, the SSP said adding seven people were arrested from the spot. 

He said arrested gang members revealed that they had already circulated fake stamp papers worth lakhs of rupees in Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and West Bengal through vendors. The fake stamp papers in denominations of Rs 10, Rs 100, Rs 200, Rs 500, Rs 750 and Rs 20,000 were meant for use in agreement for land registration, apartment registration, affidavit and issuance of power of attorney.