2 yrs on, probe into fake RC racket incomplete

Aman Sood
Tribune News Service
Patiala, January 23

It’s been two years since fake registration certificates (RCs) of vehicles surfaced, but the district police are yet to complete the investigation.

The delay in completing the investigation has meant that vehicles continue to be registered illegally in various offices of the Transport Department across the state, sources say.

They also say private agents in connivance with Regional Transport Authority (RTA) staff get vehicles registered “without paying taxes to the state government”.

Such scams have also surfaced in Ropar, Mansa, Faridkot and Ferozepur, but the investigation has failed to bring out anything concrete. The department is yet to order a Vigilance inquiry into the scam.

An officer of the department said: “It is a big nexus. The amount of money minted by RTA officers runs into crores of rupees. They are willing to cough up any amount for posting in the RTA.”

In 2018, the district police had formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe into the issuance of fake RCs and transport permits. To date, it has not submitted its report.

In October 2018, the police had arrested Amandeep Singh of Sidhuwal village in Patiala district and Arvinder Singh of Ambala. They would reportedly purchase vehicles, attached by banks after customers defaulted on loan payments, during the auction. Then, they would tamper with the chassis and engine numbers of the vehicles and prepare a fake no objection certificates (NOCs) from the Ambala RTA.

Subsequently, the accused would approached the Patiala RTA and get the vehicles registered by presenting fake NOCs and fake residential proof.

The accused had confessed to have issued fake RCs and sold many vehicles using fake documents.

The police had seized 69 RCs issued in the name of the Patiala RTA, 11 RCs in the name of the Ambala RTA and 132 counterfeit transport permits, all issued from Patiala.

The cops had also seized seven fake rubber stamps. The police suspected that Patiala and Ambala RTA employees were working in connivance with the accused.

Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Mandeep Singh Sidhu had constituted a three-member SIT, headed by then SP (Traffic) Harmeet Singh Hundal.

As Hundal has been transferred, incumbent SP (Traffic) Palwinder Singh Cheema is investigating the case. “You cannot expect clerks or agents to register vehicles. Top officials must be booked,” a senior police officer said.

Sidhu said he would look into the matter and initiate action against anyone found guilty. “I will direct the SIT to complete the investigation soon so that the further action can be taken,” he added.