CBI official held for Tatkal ticket scam

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, December 27

The CBI today arrested its software programmer for developing illicit software to subvert the Railways Tatkal reservation system, allowing hundreds of tickets to be booked in one go.

The accused, Ajay Garg, an assistant programmer with the CBI, worked with Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation Limited for four years between 2007 and 11 where he learnt the vulnerabilities of the Railway ticketing system, a CBI spokesperson said.

The accused was registered on alleged charges of criminal conspiracy, computer related offences for unauthorised access and damage to computer system, unauthorised carrying on of business of procuring and supplying of railway tickets and criminal misconduct, he said.

Garg has been arrested along with close aide Anil Kumar Gupta, a private person who distributed the software to agents for a price. Besides, 10 agents - seven in Jaunpur and three in Mumbai - have been identified, he said.

A postgraduate in computer applications, Garg allegedly sold the software through Gupta.

The accused was allegedly collected money for the use of such software by certain booking agents and had amassed huge wealth from these activities.