FAKE Gandhi postmark cancel from Germany on 2nd October 2009 ???

Hello Gandhi Philatelist,

Recently I noticed on ebay that there is one more postmark cancel by Germany on October 2nd 2009 on Gandhi's 140th birthday to celebrate United Nations International Non-Violence Day. Following is the postmark cancel which has "Emblem of India" and Gandhi Image.

FAKE special cancellation with EMBLEM OF INDIA 

(After reply from Germany Postal Department (see bottom) this are FAKE special cancellation.)

According to my research that only "Emblem of India" can be used by permission of Government of India official such as President, Prime Minister, Chief Minister, Cabinet Minister, Indian Embassy Official etc.

So not sure whether permission was taken to use this "Emblem of India" from any other above mentioned official and in this case it will be Embassy of India in Germany. It's illegal to use without permission of Indian Government and can go to jail if unlawfully used.

( The State Emblem is the official seal of India. As such, use of the State Emblem for official seal is restricted to the President, the Vice President, Union Ministers, Ministers and others Officers of the Central Government including diplomatic missions abroad, Governors, Lieutenant Governors, Chief Commissioners and Administrators of Union Territories and Ministers and departments and offices of the State governments and of Union Territory governments and administrations who have adopted the State Emblem. Offices of Central Government permitted to use distinct emblems of their own may, however, use the same in their seals.

The State Emblem shall not be used for any trade or profession or in the title of any patent, or in any trade mark or design except in such cases and under such conditions as may be prescribed by the Central Governments under Section 3 of The Emblems and Names (Prevention of Improper Use) Act, 1950. Unauthorised use of the Emblem for such purposes is an offence under the Act.

Private persons, bodies of persons and sports associations are not permitted to use the State Emblem on their letter-heads, seats, crests, badges, house flags or for any other purpose except with the permission of the Government.)

I did some research on German Post website which is
http://www.deutschepost.de/dpag?xmlFile=828 & also I contacted them by email and got reply from them(email copy is attached). Also I contacted some local German Philatelist from whom I bought Gandhi related material and according to them they are not aware of this postmark cancellation.

Also contacted local Winnenden Philatelic Club President "Bjorn" and he did throughly investigation and he also emailed me that this is FAKE. Even he contacted one local Gandhi Stamp collectors near Winnenden (Schwaikheim) and he was not aware of who created this.!!

This is amazing as GANDHI philately material is one of the most popular and searched on internet auction sites as well as in stamp shows no one has any idea about this postmark cancellation.

My research indicates that following is authenticated philatelic material issued on October 2nd 2009.

1) United Nations:- $1 Gandhi stamp with FDC & Souvenir card
2) India :- 25 Rupees Gandhi stamp & FDC.
3) Croatia :- Gandhi Postmark Cancel.

So now my questions is what is this German GANDHI postmark cancellation?

* Did anyone apply for permission from Indian Goverment ?

* Did Indian Embassy of Germany approved to use Emblem of India ?

* Anyone has proof that this is issued by Germany Postal Service ?

Is it FAKE?

YES IT IS !!! (Read email from German Postal Service)

Thanks
Gandhi Stamps Club

================= ================ ===================

I got 2 reply from different department of Deutschepost and as per them this are not postmark from German Postal Service. Read following emails and let me know if any question about email.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Premium-Service-Philatelie@deutschepost.de 
Date: Jan 22, 2010 4:47 AM
Subject: Your inquiry
To: kxxx@gmail.com

Dear Mr. Patel,

Thank you for your inquiry.
Deutsche Post AG did not issue any postmark from Ghandi`s birthday.

Kind regards
Jutta Frimberger
Premium Service Philatelie
Deutsche Post AG
Niederlassung Philatelie
Franz-Zebisch-Str. 15
92637 Weiden
3632 Junior Assistent Premium
Tel.: 0180 3 245442

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Sonder-Werbestempel@deutschepost.de 
Date: Feb 1, 2010 6:31 AM
Subject: AW: Gandhi postmark handstamp on October 2nd 2009 from Winnenden, Germany,
To: kxxx@gmail.com

Dear Mr. Patel,

Thank you for your require.

The postmark is not a postmark from the German Post. You can recognize this, because there are no posthorns on it.
I am sorry, the person who has created the postmark is unknown.

Kind regards

Mit freundlichen Grüßen
Anna Girbert

Deutsche Post AG
Niederlassung Philatelie
Stempelvertrieb
Franz-Zebisch-Str. 15
92637 Weiden
Tel: 0961 - 3818 3636
Fax: 01805 - 24 68 76
e-mail: Anna.Girbert@DeutschePost.de
e-mail: Sonder-Werbestempel@DeutschePost.de
Webseite: http://philatelie.deutschepost.de/philatelie/

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BTW : - This forgery or BOGUS special cancellation won MEDAL in philatelic exhibition in India.!! Can you believe that.!!! Looks like Philatelic Judges don't know what they are doing or might be they are also involved in cheating or they know this is BOGUS, but cannot do anything.!!