Fake stamp papers: A business in demand

13 July 2012

biswabrata goswami
TAMLUK, 13 JULY: The business of fake non-judicial stamp papers has flourished in East Midnapore district, despite an option that does away with stamp papers.
This came to light when the state vigilance commission instructed the district registrar to conduct a probe into the matter based on the complaint lodged with the additional director general of police by an RTI activist.
During the course of the investigation, it was revealed that the racketeers have nation-wide network and the racket could be worth several thousands crores of rupees.
The investigating officers lodged an FIR with Tamluk and Moyna police on 6 July against four people directly involved in the multi-crore racket, but the police have failed to arrest them.
Zilla parishad saha-sabhadhipati Mamud Hossain said: “This is just the tip of the iceberg. The fraud has been committed mostly by stamp vendors and a few people who are involved with the nation-wide racket.
“This corruption was started during the regime of the erstwhile Left Front government and is still continuing. In this way, our government is losing revenue to the extent of Rs 20,000-30,000 crore. So, I have written to the state finance minister to investigate the matter through a special investigating agency," said Mr Hossain.
A lawyer at Tamluk district court: “Non-judicial stamp papers are used for registration, sale or purchase of land, homes and others. They are also used to pay taxes. But since the non-judicial stamp paper scam hit the government, a provision was made to pay the necessary amount in banks through chalans instead of through stamp papers. However, these stamp papers are still used in many places as several registrars do not have computers to issue chalans."
Under the present system, a person can get a chalan from the registrar’s office and then go to the bank to deposit the tax. However, stamp papers are more popular in districts, which are far from the modern state-of-the-art systems.
A police officer said: “The fake stamp papers ensure that the government doesn’t get revenue. These are mainly supplied to remote districts, as the rural population there can never understand the difference between a fake and an original. Differentiating is very difficult and even people in the urban areas cannot do it.”
An officer in the district registrar office said: “The bank gives a receipt that the money has been deposited. However, as many places do not have access to computers to issue chalans, stamp papers are still in use. Many people even find a stamp paper more authentic as they have been in use for years.”
Sources said fake stamp papers with denominations of Rs 50, Rs 100, Rs 1,000 and Rs 5,000 are sold almost everywhere. “One can get it at the Tamluk district collectorate, too. These are used for different kinds of agreements and affidavits. Fake court-fee stamps that are used by the masses and officials for correspondence with different government departments are also sold. The police are aware of the business. Every one has a cut in it,” said an officer.