Mumbai Crime Branch arrests two with fake stamp papers worth ₹62.5 lakh near airport
Synopsis
A ₹62.5 lakh fake stamp paper haul outside Mumbai airport has unravelled an alleged multi-state loan fraud operation — where victims were lured with forged affidavits, sent to Delhi for 'loan processing', and then told their documents had been stolen. The Crime Branch suspects the arrested duo is part of a larger network, and a February arrest in a linked case adds weight to that theory.
Key Takeaways
Mumbai Crime Branch Unit 8 arrested Rohit Jadhav and Narendra Ahire near Mumbai airport on 29 May .
Police seized 251 counterfeit non-judicial stamp papers , each valued at ₹25,000 , totalling approximately ₹62,50,500 .
The accused allegedly used fake papers to prepare loan affidavits, then made victims' documents 'disappear' during trips to Delhi .
Narendra Ahire is suspected to be the mastermind; both were remanded to seven days of police custody by the Esplanade Court .
In February 2025 , Mumbai Police had arrested two others from Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in a related postal stamp forgery case, recovering fake stamps worth nearly ₹28 lakh .
The Mumbai Crime Branch has arrested two men from outside Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj International Airport on 29 May for allegedly possessing counterfeit non-judicial stamp papers with a combined face value of over ₹62.5 lakh. The seizure has exposed what investigators believe is a structured loan fraud racket operating across multiple states.
The Accused and the Seizure
The two arrested individuals have been identified as Rohit Jadhav (37), originally from Ambernath and a resident of Badlapur, and Narendra Ahire (46), a resident of Kopar Khairane, Navi Mumbai. The Crime Branch Unit 8 team intercepted the duo while they were allegedly transporting the forged documents for delivery to a third party.
Investigators seized 251 counterfeit non-judicial stamp papers, each purportedly valued at ₹25,000, placing the total face value of the haul at approximately ₹62,50,500. The papers were reportedly intended for use in a range of non-judicial transactions and affidavits.
How the Alleged Fraud Operated
According to investigators, the accused allegedly used the fake stamp papers to prepare affidavits on behalf of loan applicants. Victims were then directed to travel to Delhi for supposed loan processing. During the journey, the bag containing the documents would allegedly be made to disappear, after which the accused would inform victims that the bag had been stolen — effectively stalling the loan process and, investigators suspect, extorting fees or retaining advance payments.
Investigators suspect Ahire to be the mastermind of the racket, with Jadhav acting as the courier. Ahire allegedly handed the fake stamp papers to Jadhav for onward delivery when both were apprehended.
Court Remand and Ongoing Probe
Both accused were produced before the Esplanade Court, which remanded them to seven days of police custody. The Mumbai Crime Branch is now working to trace the source of the counterfeit papers, identify the intended recipients, and determine whether a larger network is behind the operation.
A Recurring Pattern in Mumbai
This is not an isolated incident. In February this year, a Mumbai Police team arrested two more individuals from Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in connection with a separate postal stamp forgery racket, recovering fake stamps with a face value of nearly ₹28 lakh. The back-to-back cases suggest that counterfeit stamp paper networks continue to operate with relative impunity across state lines, exploiting the trust placed in official documentation for financial transactions.
As the Crime Branch widens its investigation, authorities are expected to probe whether the two cases share a common supply chain or syndicate.
Point of View
And it is difficult for victims to report because they may themselves have knowingly used unofficial channels. The fact that a near-identical racket was busted in February, also in Mumbai, points to a supply chain for fake stamp papers that the Crime Branch has yet to fully dismantle. The real question is upstream: who is printing these papers, and how are they reaching couriers across state lines?
NationPress
13 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was arrested in the Mumbai fake stamp paper case?
The two arrested individuals are Rohit Jadhav , 37, a resident of Badlapur, and Narendra Ahire , 46, a resident of Kopar Khairane in Navi Mumbai. They were apprehended by the Mumbai Crime Branch Unit 8 outside Mumbai airport on 29 May.
What is the total value of the fake stamp papers seized?
Police seized 251 counterfeit non-judicial stamp papers, each purportedly valued at ₹25,000, bringing the total face value to approximately ₹62,50,500. The papers were allegedly meant for use in loan-related affidavits and other non-judicial transactions.
How did the alleged loan fraud scheme work?
According to investigators, the accused prepared affidavits for loan applicants using fake stamp papers, then directed victims to travel to Delhi for loan processing. During the journey, the bag containing the documents would allegedly be made to vanish, and victims were told it had been stolen, preventing the loan from proceeding.
What has the court ordered for the accused?
Both Rohit Jadhav and Narendra Ahire were produced before the Esplanade Court in Mumbai, which remanded them to seven days of police custody to allow the Crime Branch to continue its investigation.
Has Mumbai seen similar fake stamp paper cases before?
Yes. In February 2025, Mumbai Police arrested two individuals from Uttar Pradesh and Delhi in connection with a postal stamp forgery racket, recovering fake stamps worth nearly ₹28 lakh. Investigators are now examining whether the two cases are linked through a common network.
