CB wants norms amended

BHUBANESWAR: Recurrence of fake stamp paper sale has prompted the Crime Branch (CB) to seek an amendment to the norms that guide their supply and sale in the State. The Revenue and Disaster Management Department is the administrative department for the sale and the CB of the State Police has written to the former seeking change in the Orissa Supply and Sale of Stamps and Stamped Paper Rule, 1990. Since there is no provision for cancellation of licence of vendors, who indulge in sale of fake stamp papers, the CB has sought that the rules may be modified to bring in the clause. The move sprung from the case the CB was investigating in 2006. It had registered a case against two vendors __ Sukadev Rout and Gajendra Prasad Sahu of Bhadrak Court __ for their alleged involvement in the procurement and sale of fake India non-judicial stamp papers which are used in court proceedings. The investigating agency subsequently submitted chargesheets against them and the matter is sub judice. The two vendors had been arrested and subsequently released on bail. The CB found out that they managed to renew their vendor licences and started selling stamp papers as usual. After the matter came to its notice, the CB shot off a letter to secretary, Revenue and Disaster Management Department, stating that the licence of the two vendors should have been cancelled.  “They were procuring and selling fake stamp papers which affected the revenue of the State. The licences of the two have not been cancelled because existing parameters in Orissa Supply and Sale of Stamps and Stamped Paper Rule, 1980, do not envisage cancelling licence on the basis of involvement in criminal case or dealing in fake stamp papers,” Additional Director- General of CB Abhay said in the letter. The CB has requested the Government to take a decision to amend the rules keeping in view the recurrence of such incidents so that cancellation of licence can be a deterrent.