Following the revelation, the RTO has launched a discreet investigation into the matter and several officials who directly or indirectly deal with driving tests and driving license (DL) documentation could be the subject of the probe, sources said on Friday. officers.
The scam came to light during a test verification of 1.04 lakh licenses through SARATHI online data regarding processing of driving license applications after conducting mandatory driving tests of the applicants/candidates .
The result of the audit was disturbing: of the 1.04 lakh licenses analysed, 76,354 driving licenses, or almost 75 per cent, were issued in 2023-2024, and suspicious driving tests were carried out on invalid vehicles.
Following a tip-off from Thane social worker Binu Varghese, RTO officials got to work on the revelations, with far-reaching implications and the dubious driving skills of thousands of drivers speeding on the roads. .
The driving license data shed light on how four vehicles, including two-wheelers and cars, were repeatedly used for testing different categories of vehicles, from scooters to cranes, for which all 76,354 driving licenses were issued. questionable.
While 41,093 driving licenses were issued for two-wheelers, another 35,261 were authorized for two-wheelers, apparently blindly with probable shady dealings.
The auditors concluded: “Licenses were issued for LMV but the 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-wheeler category, but driving tests were conducted in cars or two-wheelers.”
Opening the RTO, the auditors said it was clear how, while processing the documentation 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 4 vehicles subject to audit control) by nature and similar cases can be identified and suggested to the audit,” the auditor noted in last fortnight's report.
The breakdown in the audit report shows: (two test two-wheelers – No. MH-02-BX-5817 and No. MH-02-BL-3906) under which driving licenses issued for three-wheelers/ goods vehicles (792); LMV and LMV-TR (3,501); MCWG/OG or motorcycles without equipment (36,319); transport vehicles (385); and heavy vehicles such as trucks, buses, cranes, etc. (96), for a total of 41,093 DL.
For the two test cars (No. MH-02-AQ2409 and No. MH-02-BQ-9727), three-wheeler/goods vehicle driving licenses (881) were issued; LMV and LMV-TR (33,922); MCWG/OG or motorcycles without equipment (121); transport vehicles (306); and heavy vehicles such as trucks, buses, cranes, etc. (31), for a total of 35,261 DL.
When contacted, an RTO official, who asked not to be named, admitted to IANS that this is audit data of only one RTO (Andheri), and that there are 53 more RTOs in Maharashtra (54), besides more than 1,100 RTOs across India where such practices are practiced. can be rampant, issuing around 1.20 crore licenses annually.
"They should also be audited for such dangerous malpractices as a top priority by states and the Centre, besides, review the rules to make student driving courses longer and driving tests stricter to ensure safety of people on Indian roads," the RTO urged. official.
For his part, Varghese maintained that despite being aware of the ongoing frauds, why did the RTO top brass not initiate any action and alleged “obvious mismanagement” in issuing thousands of driving licenses randomly daily?
"It is difficult to imagine that there are thousands of drivers on the roads who have obtained their driving license without proper driving tests... Then we have examples like the Porsche accident case in Pune, which involved a rich brat and underage "He killed two young people in just a few seconds." Varghese said.
(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: [email protected])
The scam came to light during a test verification of 1.04 lakh licenses through SARATHI online data regarding processing of driving license applications after conducting mandatory driving tests of the applicants/candidates .
The result of the audit was disturbing: of the 1.04 lakh licenses analysed, 76,354 driving licenses, or almost 75 per cent, were issued in 2023-2024, and suspicious driving tests were carried out on invalid vehicles.
Following a tip-off from Thane social worker Binu Varghese, RTO officials got to work on the revelations, with far-reaching implications and the dubious driving skills of thousands of drivers speeding on the roads. .
The driving license data shed light on how four vehicles, including two-wheelers and cars, were repeatedly used for testing different categories of vehicles, from scooters to cranes, for which all 76,354 driving licenses were issued. questionable.
While 41,093 driving licenses were issued for two-wheelers, another 35,261 were authorized for two-wheelers, apparently blindly with probable shady dealings.
The auditors concluded: “Licenses were issued for LMV but the 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-wheeler category, but driving tests were conducted in cars or two-wheelers.”
Opening the RTO, the auditors said it was clear how, while processing the documentation 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 4 vehicles subject to audit control) by nature and similar cases can be identified and suggested to the audit,” the auditor noted in last fortnight's report.
The breakdown in the audit report shows: (two test two-wheelers – No. MH-02-BX-5817 and No. MH-02-BL-3906) under which driving licenses issued for three-wheelers/ goods vehicles (792); LMV and LMV-TR (3,501); MCWG/OG or motorcycles without equipment (36,319); transport vehicles (385); and heavy vehicles such as trucks, buses, cranes, etc. (96), for a total of 41,093 DL.
For the two test cars (No. MH-02-AQ2409 and No. MH-02-BQ-9727), three-wheeler/goods vehicle driving licenses (881) were issued; LMV and LMV-TR (33,922); MCWG/OG or motorcycles without equipment (121); transport vehicles (306); and heavy vehicles such as trucks, buses, cranes, etc. (31), for a total of 35,261 DL.
When contacted, an RTO official, who asked not to be named, admitted to IANS that this is audit data of only one RTO (Andheri), and that there are 53 more RTOs in Maharashtra (54), besides more than 1,100 RTOs across India where such practices are practiced. can be rampant, issuing around 1.20 crore licenses annually.
"They should also be audited for such dangerous malpractices as a top priority by states and the Centre, besides, review the rules to make student driving courses longer and driving tests stricter to ensure safety of people on Indian roads," the RTO urged. official.
For his part, Varghese maintained that despite being aware of the ongoing frauds, why did the RTO top brass not initiate any action and alleged “obvious mismanagement” in issuing thousands of driving licenses randomly daily?
"It is difficult to imagine that there are thousands of drivers on the roads who have obtained their driving license without proper driving tests... Then we have examples like the Porsche accident case in Pune, which involved a rich brat and underage "He killed two young people in just a few seconds." Varghese said.
(Quaid Najmi can be contacted at: [email protected])
