MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HOME AFFAIRS (SHRI MANIKRAO HODLYA GAVIT)
(a): As per available information, a total of 560 persons have been arrested in 63 cases relating to Fake Stamp Paper being handled by the Central Bureau of Investigation. The State-wise break-up of persons arrested uptil now is as under:
Sl.No. State No.of persons Sl.No. State No.of persons arrested arrested
1 Madhya Pradesh 6 7 Tamil Nadu 11
2 Andhra Pradesh 78 8 Gujarat 19
3 Bihar 8 9 Delhi 36
4 Uttar Pradesh 9 10 Karnataka 103
5 West Bengal 11 11 Maharashtra 264
6 Kerala 5
In addition, 8 personnel of Railway Protection Force (RPF) and 2 personnel of India Security Press (ISP) have also been arrested.
(b): A total amount of (approx.) Rs.33,960,257,180/- worth of fake stamp papers have been seized under these cases. The state-wise break-up of the seizures has not been maintained as the cases have inter-state ramifications.
(c): The Government of India has taken a number of steps to prevent such incidents. These include the following (i) all the security agencies have been alerted about the scam, (ii) the security at ISP, Nasik was replaced by CISF in October 2002, in the outer periphery, in the first phase, (iii) based on the inputs received from Intelligence Agencies and other sources, the General Manager of ISP was first transferred out, placed under suspension and subsequently dismissed from service. Seven other officials have also been placed under suspension and three Deputy General Managers have been transferred out of ISP. Action against five retired officials under pension rules has also been initiated, (iv) the second phase of induction of CISF has also been completed, (v) instructions have also been issued that disposal of old machinery should be done only after dismantling and crushing them in the presence of responsible officers and should be sold as scrap, (vi) security has also been tightened and several new measures have been taken to tone up the administration,
(vii) CBI has been given the go-ahead to take suitable action against the erring officials,
(viii) the Government has decided to introduce Computerised Stamp Duty Administration System. The Stamp Act has been amended to enable use of modern technology for foolproof collection of this important source of revenue of the State Governments.
Charge sheet/supplementary charge sheet have been filed in 22 cases out of 63 cases.
