Fake stamp papers seized on Saturday at Agamkuan in Patna City. Picture by Sachin

Patna, Aug. 21: The business of fake non-judicial stamp papers and court fee stamps is flourishing at the Patna collectorate and in the districts despite an option that does away with stamp papers.

A day after a joint team of Special Task Force and Patna police unearthed a fake non-judicial stamp papers and Kisan Vikas Patra racket worth Rs 50 crore from a house in Agamkuan at Patna City, sources told The Telegraph that the use of non-judicial stamp papers for different kind of registrations have stopped after the multi-crore Abdul Karim Telgi scandal came to the fore in 2006.

“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 through stamp papers. However, these stamp papers are still used in many places as several collectorates do not have computers to issue chalans,” said a lawyer at Patna district court.

Sources said according to the present system, one can get a chalan from the registrar’s office at the collectorate 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, sources added.

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.”

The lawyer added: “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. Some do not know about the new provision where they can go to banks to pay the necessary amount.”

Sources said fake stamp papers with denominations of Rs 50 and Rs 100 are sold almost everywhere. “One can get it at Patna collectorate too. These are used for different kind 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 another lawyer.

However, a police officer said: “It cannot happen without the involvement of collectorate officials. Those arrested in Saturday’s case are being interrogated and we will have more information soon.”