Racketeers active in Hyderabad also?

By Govind D.Belgaumkar

BANGALORE, AUG. 20. Hyderabad may fall prey to the inter-State fake stamps and stamp papers racket, which has been busted by the Bangalore city police.

According to highly-placed sources, Hyderabad was being another major target of the racketeers, allegedly headed by Badruddin of Belgaum in the State.

Police said that "incriminating documents" seized during the investigation, suggested that the racketeers were active in Hyderabad too. However, police were yet to ascertain whether the racket was as wide-spread as it was in the City.

Meanwhile, the sources told The Hindu that stamp papers were being supplied through courier by "Lala" in Bombay. The City Police checking on the antecedents of "Lala" said the man might be a relative of Badruddin.

The sources added that police were making efforts to trace the courier agency which brought the stamps and stamp papers to the City. This would give them vital clues as to who booked the consignments from Bombay to the City.

The name of Chennai city also surfaced during the investigation but there was no documentary evidence to show that the racketeers were active there too. "But the possibility (of the racketeers being active there) cannot be ruled out," the sources added.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that police got information about the racket about a month ago. The team of police officers, led by Mr. G.A.Bawa, Assistant Commissioner of Police, worked on the case for the last one month before apprehending the culprits, the sources said. A continuous vigil was kept on the office of "Sri Sai A Class Stamp Vendor" for the last three days. "Every movement was watched," the sources added.

Police have information that sale of fake stamps and stamp papers was going on in Shimoga and Mangalore too. "We have already tipped off the officers in these towns," the sources said.

Sources wondered how reputed banks and business houses could have bought the stamp papers. "Apparently, it was convenient for them to buy from these so-called agents, and avoid the worry of buying it from Government offices."

Meanwhile, the police team has secured custody of the arrested persons.

We are first: CM

The Chief Minister, Mr. S.M.Krishna, who has complimented the police team for busting the racket, has said that the State has given a major clue (of criminal activities) to other States for the second time.

He told presspersons after visiting the Police Commissioner's Office, where the seized stamps and stamp papers were on display, that it was the State Police was the first to have achieved a breakthrough in the bomb blasts cases in Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Goa.

"Again now, Karnataka has provided a clue. It shows how purposeful and how aggressive Karnataka Police can be when the occasion demands of them," he said. However, he said that main culprits in the stamps racket were yet to be nabbed.

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