Mumbai Police have busted an inter-state gang, seizing counterfeit postal stamps worth Rs 27.84 lakh. Five suspects were arrested across Mumbai, Bihar, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh, while a manhunt continues for other accused involved in the scam
MRA Police display fake stamps seized from accused in inter-state operation. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
In a major blow to an inter-state forgery syndicate, the Mata Ramabai Marg (MRA Marg) Police in Fort, Mumbai, have busted a gang accused of printing and circulating fake postal stamps across India, seizing counterfeit stamps worth Rs 27.84 lakh and exposing a scam that allegedly routed Rs 7–8 crore through suspect bank accounts.
The case came to light on September 12, 2025, after a complaint by a 42-year-old postal inspector from Mumbai General Post Office (GPO) triggered a deep dive into irregular stamp circulation. A case was accordingly registered under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
From Mumbai to Bihar, and a 14-day Delhi watch
Technical analysis and coordination with the Mumbai GPO revealed that fake stamps were being dispatched to multiple states via courier.
The trail led investigators to arrest the first accused in Mumbai. His interrogation opened the Bihar link, resulting in the arrest of two more suspects from Samastipur, where the police detected suspicious banking activity involving crores of rupees.
The mastermind, however, had gone underground—changing phones and addresses. Acting on tactical intelligence, a police team camped in Delhi for 14 days, keeping round-the-clock surveillance before finally nabbing two key accused from Delhi–National Capital Region (NCR). The breakthrough yielded a massive cache of counterfeit stamps ready for nationwide distribution.
Mumbai Police recovered forged stamps featuring iconic national personalities and symbols
Rs 20 stamps of Mother Teresa: 23,100 pieces worth Rs 4.62 lakh
Rs 10 stamps of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj: 1.25 lakh pieces worth Rs 12.50 lakh
Rs 5 stamps of Dr APJ Abdul Kalam: 70,000 pieces worth Rs 3.50 lakh
Rs 5 stamps of Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel: 20,000 pieces worth Rs 1 lakh
Rs 200 stamps of Ashoka Pillar: 595 pieces worth Rs 1.19 lakh
Rs 100 stamps of Ashoka Pillar: 32 pieces worth Rs 3,200
Rs 50 stamps of Rabindranath Tagore: 10,000 pieces worth Rs 5 lakh
Total seizure: Rs 27,84,200
Investigators said the forged stamps were couriered to different states, causing direct losses to the government exchequer.
Five accused have been arrested from Mumbai, Bihar, Delhi, and Uttar Pradesh. The police believe that there are more accused on the run and a manhunt is underway to nab them.
The operation was carried out under the guidance of senior officers from the south division of Mumbai Police, with the MRA Marg Police’s team leveraging technical intelligence, financial analysis, and field surveillance to dismantle the network.
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