Abdul Karim Telgi conducted his business in a professional manner. The kingpin of the stamps scamp had even undertaken a survey to study the Mumbai market for his fake stamps and stamp papers.Complus, a ‘‘computer firm’’ floated by Telgi, even recruited a few people to carry out a market survey for counterfeit stationary. Blissfully unaware of the fact that they were becoming part of a racket, the ‘‘executives’’ did the survey and submitted reports. Telgi later fired them.Confirming Telgi’s market surveys in Mumbai, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) S.M. Mushrif said he (Telgi) had floated several companies which projected themselves as providers of various services. These companies had also recruited several youths as ‘‘marketing executives’’.Complus issued recruitment advertisements. Applicants were asked to carry out surveys to find out regular customors for stamps and stamp papers. On the basis of these reports, ‘‘marketing executives’’ of other Telgi companies would approach the parties, offering to supply at a discount of about two per cent.Nobody suspected any foul play as Telgi himself was a Government-licensed stamp vendor. Police officials said Telgi also used the licenses of some stamp vendors to sell counterfeit stamps and stamp papers. Investigations so far have revealed that Chandrakant Vitthal Lakhe, a 30-year-old stamp vendor operating from Ghorpade Peth in Pune, who was arrested on Tuesday for his suspected links with the counterfeit stamp and stamp racket, was being paid Rs 5,000 per month by the Telgi gang for his license and seals.
