**Stamp Paper Fraud: Millions ‘Embezzled’ Through Counterfeit Court Fees**
A major scam involving fraudulent stamp papers has been uncovered in Chiniot, Punjab, resulting in the embezzlement of millions of rupees through forged court fees.
Judicial sources reveal that court fees submitted in local courts were found to be counterfeit. Stamp papers originally valued at Rs1,500, 1,200, 500, and 200 were reportedly altered, fraudulently increasing their value to Rs15,000.
The alleged scam has impacted multiple courts. Thirty-six counterfeit court fees were found in the court of Civil Judge First Class Umar Farooq. Other affected courts include those of Chaudhry Fayaz (22 fake submissions), Shazia Kausar (19), Additional District and Sessions Judge Javed Iqbal (16), Session Judge Zafar Iqbal (13), Muhammad Mazhar (13), Waqar Ahmed (8), Nadeem Anjum (2), and Umair Ali (12).
The fraud was detected using an online verification system.
In response, District and Sessions Judge Shazia Rahman has ordered the registration of cases across multiple police stations. Numerous cases in which fake fees were submitted over the last three years have been withdrawn.