Mumbai Police have arrested three individuals for their alleged involvement in a large-scale counterfeit postal stamp racket that was recently uncovered by the General Post Office (GPO). The scam, estimated to be worth around ₹8 crore, reportedly operated across several states, including Delhi and Bihar, and has raised serious concerns about the integrity of postal operations nationwide.
According to officials, the arrested individuals have been identified as Rakesh Bind and Shamsuddin Ahmed, both businessmen, and Shahid Raza, who worked as a clerk. Preliminary investigations revealed that the trio played key roles in the distribution and sale of forged postal stamps, which were being circulated through postal and courier networks across multiple regions. The accused have been remanded to police custody until Thursday as investigators continue to trace the full extent of the racket’s operations and its possible links to organized fraud syndicates.
Authorities stated that the counterfeit stamps were being sold at half their official face value, attracting bulk buyers and small-scale distributors seeking cheap postage solutions. This pricing tactic helped the suspects circulate large volumes of fake stamps undetected for a considerable period. Police also discovered that bank account records connected to the three men contained transactions exceeding ₹8 crore, suggesting the racket had been active for months, possibly even years.
The scam came to light after postal department officials at the General Post Office in Mumbai noticed irregularities in several letters and parcels during a routine verification process. Upon closer inspection, the stamps affixed to these items were confirmed to be counterfeit. The discovery prompted an immediate internal investigation, followed by the filing of a criminal complaint with Mumbai Police’s Economic Offences Wing (EOW).
A senior police officer stated that the ongoing probe aims to uncover how the fake stamps were produced and distributed. “We are investigating the broader network behind this racket and looking into potential connections with similar postal frauds in other parts of the country,” the officer said. Investigators believe that the counterfeit stamps may have been printed using high-end scanners and reproduction technology, making them nearly indistinguishable from genuine ones to the untrained eye.
The postal department, in coordination with law enforcement agencies, has initiated measures to track down buyers who may have unknowingly or deliberately purchased fake stamps. Authorities are also reviewing postal transactions from major courier hubs to identify other possible sources of forged stamps. Officials have urged the public, particularly businesses that rely heavily on bulk mailing, to remain vigilant and verify the authenticity of stamps before use.
To prevent further misuse, postal authorities are now considering the introduction of digital verification systems and enhanced watermarking features on physical stamps. “We are evaluating technological solutions that will make counterfeiting more difficult and ensure better tracking of postal materials,” a senior postal officer said.
The arrests mark an important step in dismantling what appears to be a nationwide postal fraud network, but officials acknowledge that more suspects are likely involved. The investigation continues to expand, with coordination between state police units and the central postal intelligence division to uncover the remaining layers of the operation and ensure accountability across all linked entities.
