Markand Dave had not taken permission to carry the rare stamps out of India.
Philately is a hobby that rarely lands anybody in jail. But Markand Dave, a philatelist and national award winner who was felicitated by the postal department, has a very different tale to tell.
He landed in a soup after he was caught by custom officials with rare postal stamps and postal cover-shell.
Dave was caught while he was to take a flight from Sardar Patel International Airport, Ahmedabad to Frankfurt, Germany.
Dave, who had an album with more than 300 rare postal stamps and postal cover-shells, was to participate at an exhibition in London.
Dave had an invitation from a London-based group which organises rare postal stamps exhibition and was to participate in the event. On Saturday he was to take a flight to Frankfurt from Ahmedabad. However, during the routine luggage check at the airport, custom officials came to know of his album containing
the stamps.
He was immediately caught as he had not taken prior permission to carry the stamps outside the country. The seized postal stamps are worth more than crores of rupees in the international market. Dave, a resident of Nadiad, works as a director of a reputed finance company. Philately is his hobby.
His collection also included postal stamps that were more than 100-years-old. Dave, who was booked under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, was produced before the court of metropolitan magistrate, RC Joshi. He was sent to judicial custody.
According to Nilesh Lodha, counsel for Dave, "The court has fixed April 16 for hearing Dave's bail application as the prosecution advocates pleaded time for filling affidavit in the case."
As per the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Sites and Remains Act, 1958, any article, object or thing declared by the Centre as an antiquity, which has been in existence for not less than one hundred years, and any person trespassing with rare antiques has to face severe punishment. Lodha further said that Dave had inherited these stamps from his father and that he was also doing research on postal stamps.
"He was also awarded by the postal department for his collection of rare postal stamps," said Lodha.
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