Vehicles' fitness certificate scam unearthed in Sangrur RTA office, 3 arrested : The Tribune India

Vehicles' fitness certificate scam unearthed in Sangrur RTA office, 3 arrested

VB books RTA, MVI, 2 clerks, 2 middlemen; Rs 40,000 bribe money and documents recovered

Vehicles' fitness certificate scam unearthed in Sangrur RTA office, 3 arrested

Photo used for representational purpose only. iStock



Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, August 19

The Punjab Vigilance Bureau (VB) has unearthed a scam in Regional Transport Authority (RTA) office Sangrur and registered a criminal case against the RTA, Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI), two clerks, two middlemen and private agents. In this case, the VB has arrested two employees of this office and a middleman.

Disclosing this here today, a spokesperson of the State Vigilance Bureau said in this scam involvement of RTA Sangrur, MVI, their clerical staff and private persons has come to light who in connivance with each other used to collect bribes from various agents operating in the state for issuing fitness certificates to different types of vehicles without following prescribed rules of the state government.

He informed that as per rules of transport department all commercial vehicles had to obtain fitness certificate from the RTA office in order to ply on the roads and all such vehicles along with their documents have to be physically inspected by the MVI in his office.

Revealing the modus operandi, he added that these officials in connivance with agents and middlemen were blatantly issuing fitness certificates without any physical verification of vehicles in lieu of bribes ranging from Rs 2800 to Rs 1000 per vehicle depending on model of vehicle. In this way, the RTA and MVI were passing the vehicles only on the basis of documents without physical inspections of vehicles that has to be parked at a specified place for inspection on the spot.

The spokesperson further added that on the basis of complaints received in this regard, a VB team conducted a surprise checking in the office of MVI Sangrur that exposed the scam. In this case, the VB arrested three accused on the spot namely Dharminder Pal alias Bunty (agent) alongwith dealing clerk Gurucharan Singh and data entry operator Jagsir Singh and bribe money of about Rs 40,000 besides many documents related with this ongoing scam were also recovered.

A case under the Prevention of Corruption Act has been registered at VB police station Patiala against Ravinder Singh Gill, RTA, Mahinder Pal, MVI, Gurcharan Singh, clerk, Jagsir Singh, data entry operator, Dharminder Pal alias Bunty and Sukhwinder Sukhi both middlemen and other private agents.

VB spokesperson informed that during preliminary investigation it was founds that this scam was going on since last 7-8 years and more than 2000-2500 vehicles were being issued fitness certificates every month. He said it was not possible for a person to physically inspect such large number of vehicles and bribe money of Rs 35-40 lakhs have been collected every month making this scam run in crores. He added that further investigation was under progress and the role of all officials posted in this office earlier would also be probed and strict action as per law would be initiated.

Tribune Shorts


Top News

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann reveals player from whom bribe was sought for govt job by Channi's kin

Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann reveals name of player from whom Channi's kin 'sought bribe' in lieu of govt job

Was allegedly asked to cough up Rs 2 crore to get a governme...

Gurmeet Singh Khudian, Balkar Singh inducted as new cabinet ministers

Gurmeet Singh Khudian inducted as Punjab agriculture minister, Balkar Singh gets local bodies

Governor Banwarilal Purohit administers the oath of office a...

‘PM Modi would soon start explaining to God how universe work’: Rahul Gandhi to Indian diaspora in US

In US, Rahul Gandhi says PM Modi thinks he knows more than God, calls him 'specimen'

Was speaking at the 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan' event organised by ...

Is flinging mud on India Rahul Gandhi’s sole task during foreign trips, wonders Union minister Anurag Thakur

Is flinging mud on India Rahul Gandhi's sole task during foreign trips, wonders Union minister Anurag Thakur

Says every time Rahul goes abroad he puts question marks on ...

Army opens fire after suspicious movement near LoC in J-K's Poonch

3 terrorists arrested as Army foils infiltration bid along LoC in J-K's Poonch

An Army personnel and one of the terrorists are injured in t...


Cities

View All