Overprinted India Stamp

Hello everyone I have a stamp from India which has me puzzled. There is an overprint in a red color on the stamp. The only problem is I can't make out the lettering. All I can see is the first letters and even they are hard to make out. Has anyone seen this before on an another stamp? I took a picture of the stamp and then took another, darkened it, and this seems to make it easier too see. Thanks for looking.

It might be a private (security) overprint or a bogus overprint.

It is most likely a business/company ownership marking . In India they used "runners " who took mail to the post office , this was a sercurity measure to safe guard the removal of mint/unused stamps from the mail.

Was it a common practice to use "runners" in India?

Yes it was used in many countries ,plus you also had employees who would steal from their employer . So stamps were handstamped to protect or reduce this from happening .

I know perfins were introduced in New South Wales to stifle pilfering.

They're a study in themselves!

Thanks for sharing.