Addressing the issue in detail, Congress opposition leader Vijay Wadettiwar and state unit chief Nana F. Patole alleged a massive scam of Rs 125 crore at the Andheri RTO issuing such driving licenses. (DL).
After presentations by Patole and Wadettiwar, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar directed the state government to take serious note of the matter and initiate appropriate action.
The matter came to light in the Maharashtra Auditor General of Accountants II during a test verification of 1.04 lakh licenses through SARATHI online data regarding processing of driving license applications after making the Mandatory driving test for applicants.
The random audit threw up some shocking details: 1.04 lakh licenses analysed, 76,354 driving licenses, or nearly 75 per cent, were issued in 2023-2024 with suspicious driving tests conducted on invalid vehicles.
The issue was first highlighted by IANS (June 28, 'License to kill? Mumbai RTO audit says 76,000 driving licenses issued for fake driving tests'), following a tip-off by social worker Binu Varghese, which sparked an important debate in the social and political sphere. state circles.
Waddetiwar said it was shocking how thousands of driving licenses were issued on just two two-wheelers and two-wheelers, pointing out an alleged scam as the department run directly by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde charges thousands of rupees per licence.
"The Andheri RTO issued 76,354 driving licenses for cars, trucks, buses and cranes on the basis of alleged tests conducted on two-wheelers... How is this possible?" asked Wadettiwar.
Meanwhile, Patole said the state cabinet has not been expanded and ministers are handling multiple portfolios which they cannot pay attention to.
"It was shocking that this happened in the department run by the CM himself," he said.
“The issue raised by the opposition leader is serious and should not be dismissed... If a person has taken the test only for a two-wheeler and has been granted a driving license for a tow truck or a bus, the matter is really serious. This will lead to accidents and deaths, all due to corruption,” Patole said.
Wadettiwar claimed that for every DL, between Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000 changed hands and there could be a scam of more than Rs 125 crore in the Andheri RTO alone, while there are 53 more RTOs across Maharashtra.
He noted that many accidents occur on the roads daily, citing figures from 2022, when more than 33,000 road accidents took place in the state, claiming more than 15,000 lives, while 54 percent of all road accidents involved two-wheeled vehicles. and four wheels. wheels.
Wadeyyiwar also stated that the government's attitude seems to be clear: "You pay us money and get your license," but no one cares about road accidents and loss of innocent lives.
The audit data showed details of how two two-wheelers and two cars were repeatedly used to test different categories of vehicles, from scooters to cranes, on which the 76,354 questionable driving licenses were issued.
While 41,093 driving licenses were issued in tests conducted on two-wheelers, another 35,261 driving licenses were passed in tests conducted on four-wheelers, apparently with probable shady dealings.
The auditors concluded: “Licenses were issued for LMVs but driving tests were carried out on two-wheeled vehicles (motorcycles). Driving licenses were issued for the motorcycle/scooter category, but driving tests were conducted for LMV vehicles. Driving licenses were issued for the three-wheeled vehicle category, but driving tests were conducted in cars or two-wheeled vehicles."
Opening the RTO, the auditors said it was clear how, while processing the documents for conducting DL tests, the authorized inspectors of the RTO did not follow due procedures or verify the details of the vehicle.
“This raises questions about whether the tests were carried out or not. The cases are only illustrative (only four vehicles were tested by the audit) in nature and similar cases can be identified and referred to the audit,” the auditors noted in the report.
After presentations by Patole and Wadettiwar, Assembly Speaker Rahul Narwekar directed the state government to take serious note of the matter and initiate appropriate action.
The matter came to light in the Maharashtra Auditor General of Accountants II during a test verification of 1.04 lakh licenses through SARATHI online data regarding processing of driving license applications after making the Mandatory driving test for applicants.
The random audit threw up some shocking details: 1.04 lakh licenses analysed, 76,354 driving licenses, or nearly 75 per cent, were issued in 2023-2024 with suspicious driving tests conducted on invalid vehicles.
The issue was first highlighted by IANS (June 28, 'License to kill? Mumbai RTO audit says 76,000 driving licenses issued for fake driving tests'), following a tip-off by social worker Binu Varghese, which sparked an important debate in the social and political sphere. state circles.
Waddetiwar said it was shocking how thousands of driving licenses were issued on just two two-wheelers and two-wheelers, pointing out an alleged scam as the department run directly by Chief Minister Eknath Shinde charges thousands of rupees per licence.
"The Andheri RTO issued 76,354 driving licenses for cars, trucks, buses and cranes on the basis of alleged tests conducted on two-wheelers... How is this possible?" asked Wadettiwar.
Meanwhile, Patole said the state cabinet has not been expanded and ministers are handling multiple portfolios which they cannot pay attention to.
"It was shocking that this happened in the department run by the CM himself," he said.
“The issue raised by the opposition leader is serious and should not be dismissed... If a person has taken the test only for a two-wheeler and has been granted a driving license for a tow truck or a bus, the matter is really serious. This will lead to accidents and deaths, all due to corruption,” Patole said.
Wadettiwar claimed that for every DL, between Rs 30,000 and Rs 40,000 changed hands and there could be a scam of more than Rs 125 crore in the Andheri RTO alone, while there are 53 more RTOs across Maharashtra.
He noted that many accidents occur on the roads daily, citing figures from 2022, when more than 33,000 road accidents took place in the state, claiming more than 15,000 lives, while 54 percent of all road accidents involved two-wheeled vehicles. and four wheels. wheels.
Wadeyyiwar also stated that the government's attitude seems to be clear: "You pay us money and get your license," but no one cares about road accidents and loss of innocent lives.
The audit data showed details of how two two-wheelers and two cars were repeatedly used to test different categories of vehicles, from scooters to cranes, on which the 76,354 questionable driving licenses were issued.
While 41,093 driving licenses were issued in tests conducted on two-wheelers, another 35,261 driving licenses were passed in tests conducted on four-wheelers, apparently with probable shady dealings.
The auditors concluded: “Licenses were issued for LMVs but driving tests were carried out on two-wheeled vehicles (motorcycles). Driving licenses were issued for the motorcycle/scooter category, but driving tests were conducted for LMV vehicles. Driving licenses were issued for the three-wheeled vehicle category, but driving tests were conducted in cars or two-wheeled vehicles."
Opening the RTO, the auditors said it was clear how, while processing the documents for conducting DL tests, the authorized inspectors of the RTO did not follow due procedures or verify the details of the vehicle.
“This raises questions about whether the tests were carried out or not. The cases are only illustrative (only four vehicles were tested by the audit) in nature and similar cases can be identified and referred to the audit,” the auditors noted in the report.
