Two arrested for forgery and counterfeiting of stamps

Gorakhpur (Uttar Pradesh), September 1 (ANI): In a bid to curb counterfeiting of Indian stamp paper and stop ticket smuggling, the Uttar Pradesh Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS) and police have arrested two persons accused of forging and smuggling Indian stamp paper and Indian stamp tickets, authorities said on Sunday.

The two accused, identified as Nawab Arju (alias Lalu), a resident of Bihar, and Raju Kumar Yadav, were arrested after UP ATS received information that a syndicate smuggling fake Indian stamps from Delhi was active in Uttar Pradesh. Further investigation revealed that the accused along with his alleged accomplices are planning to form an inter-state syndicate to distribute fake Indian stamps and tickets across the country. According to the information received by the police, the accused, Nawab Arju, along with other accomplices will be in Gorakhpur district to distribute fake stamps at different places. The Gorakhpur police had offered a reward of Rs 25,000 for the accused.

After the information was confirmed by the police and the ATS, both the accused were arrested in Gorakhpur.

According to the Uttar Pradesh ATS, the accused was previously detained for smuggling fake stamp paper. Moreover, the police stated that there are FIRs against the accused under IPC sections of cheating, forgery and counterfeiting.

The authorities also seized various items from the accused. The seized items include fake Indian stamp paper worth Rs 694,000, fake Indian stamp tickets worth Rs 72,000, three mobile phones and a quad bike.

According to police, six more people are allegedly involved in the syndicate. The other accused identified are Kamrudhin, Sahabzade, Aish Mohammad, Ravindra Dikshit, Nandlal Prasad and Santosh Gupta. The UP ATS is actively searching for the remaining accused.

Gorakhpur district police are initiating further legal action against the arrested accused. (ANI)