Patna, Dec 07: Authorities have seized fake stamp papers worth several lakhs of rupees and arrested five persons following raids on stamp vendors' shops inside the premises of the office of Sub-Divisional Officer at Bagaha in Bihar's West Champaran district. A team of officials headed by District Magistrate Vinay Kumar made a surprise check of the shops yesterday and detected huge irregularities, official sources said.

Forged stamp papers worth several lakhs of rupees were seized and the officers sealed ten shops and took five persons in custody.

A case was also registered with the town police station in Bettiah against the stamp vendor Amir Narayan Tiwari who was arrested last night.

Bihar government has already recommended a CBI probe in to the stamp racket in the state.

The racket was unearthed when a team of officials arrested eight members of an inter-state gang here last month.

Bureau Report