Fake stamps of Rs9.93cr face value seized in city

Patna: A traffic police team seized fake stamps of Rs9.93 crore face value from an autorickshaw near Magadh University branch office under the Kankarbagh police station area in the city on Wednesday.
However, the suspect, who was carrying the stamps, managed to escape. Each of the non-judicial stamps was of Rs500 face value.

Police sources said traffic police assistant sub-inspector Nagendra Rai and constable Ajeet Kumar Jogi were on routine vehicle checking near the Rajendra Nagar road overbridge (ROB) when they spotted a suspicious person carrying heavy baggage. Sources said before policemen could stop the suspect, he had boarded an autorickshaw on the other side of the road. Rai and Jogi rushed and stopped the autorickshaw thinking that liquor was being smuggled in the bag.

"While Rai and Jogi unloaded the baggage for checking, the suspect managed to escape," the source said.

Later, Rai informed traffic police sergeant major Anil Kumar and opened the baggage to find the non-judicial stamps.

"The fake stamps are of Rs500 value each and had been printed on several sheets and weighed around 25kg," Kankarbagh police station SHO Ravi Bhushan said.

He said the suspect had reached the main road after crossing the railway tracks near the Rajendra Nagar terminal. He was probably going to Patna Junction, Bhushan said.

Patna SSP Manu Maharaaj said police were investigating from where the fake stamps were brought and if they were to be used in Patna.

"The CCTV footage of surrounding areas where the stamps were seized are being scanned to get a clue about the persons carrying the fake stamps," the SSP said, adding their sketches would be prepared for further assistance in investigation.

The SSP also said fake stamps of Rs100 crore face value were also seized from different locations in Patna in September 2013.