World · India Bureau
Gujarat Officials Crack Down on E-Stamp Vendors Overcharging Customers
Undercover operations by Gujarat authorities have exposed vendors illegally charging premium rates for electronic stamps. Officials posed as buyers to catch two vendors in separate locations inflating prices beyond prescribed limits.
LSN India ·
Gujarat's revenue department has conducted successful undercover operations to identify vendors charging inflated rates for electronic stamps, a common service required for various legal and commercial transactions across the state.
During the checks, authorities discovered that Mohammad Rajim Abdulrashid Sheikh, operating in Balasinor, and Alpeshkumar Muljibhai Patel, based in Vadgam village of Khanpur subdivision, were charging Rs 110 for e-stamps that are officially priced at Rs 100. The 10 percent markup represents an illegal surcharge on a standardized government service.
The enforcement action reflects growing concerns about unauthorized charges imposed on citizens seeking e-stamp services. Officials deployed undercover operatives posing as regular customers to document the price violations and build cases against the errant vendors.
E-stamps are essential for property registration, loan documentation, and other legal instruments across Gujarat. The standardized pricing mechanism is designed to ensure uniform access to these services across all regions, preventing vendors from exploiting customers through arbitrary markups.
The state authorities have intensified monitoring of such service centers to protect consumers from unauthorized charges and ensure compliance with prescribed tariff structures. Similar operations are expected to continue across other parts of Gujarat to curb such malpractices.