Two RTO officers suspended in fake driving license test scam
Mumbai, Mar 12 (PTI): Two officers from the Mumbai West Regional Transport Office (RTO) have been suspended in connection with a fake driving licence scam wherein questionable driving tests were conducted on invalid vehicles in 2023-24, an official said on Wednesday.
The suspended officials, Assistant RTO Raosaheb Ragde and Motor Vehicle Inspector Umesh Devre, were placed under suspension following a probe conducted by the Transport Commissioner’s office.
As per the suspension order dated March 10, the Maharashtra Accountant General (Audit), Nagpur, had flagged irregularities in the issuance of driving licenses at the Mumbai West RTO office, during the financial year 2023-24.
The audit report raised concerns about licenses issued based on fake driving tests, prompting an internal inquiry. Following the investigation led by the Andheri RTO, the inquiry committee confirmed procedural lapses in the issuance of driving licenses, officials said.
During their suspension period, Ragade will be stationed at the RTO Mumbai (East), while Devre will report to the RTO Mumbai (Central) as their headquarters.
The investigation revealed procedural lapses, with the RTO reportedly using a single vehicle for conducting driving tests for multiple applicants, irrespective of the class of licence.
The scam was exposed during a routine check of 1.04 lakh driving licences using the online ‘Sarathi’ database. The audit revealed that nearly 75 per cent of these licences—76,354 in total—were issued in 2023-24 following questionable driving tests conducted on invalid vehicles.
Let the Truth be known. If you read VB and like VB, please be a VB Supporter and Help us deliver the Truth to one and all.
Sujit Nair raises concerns over speculation of DMK-AIADMK understanding to block TVK
Chennai: Journalist and political commentator Sujit Nair has expressed concern over speculation that the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam could explore a post-poll understanding to prevent Vijay-led Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam from forming the government in Tamil Nadu.
In a social media post, Sujit Nair said the election verdict in Tamil Nadu reflected a clear public demand for political change and argued that the mandate should be respected irrespective of political preferences.
Referring to reports and political discussions surrounding a possible understanding between the DMK and AIADMK, he said he hoped such developments remained only speculative conversations and did not turn into reality.
Nair stated that if such an alliance were to take shape, it would raise serious questions about ideological politics in the country. He said TVK had emerged through a democratic electoral process and that the legitimacy to govern in a parliamentary democracy comes from the people’s verdict.
According to him, attempts to prevent an electoral winner from forming the government through unexpected political arrangements may be constitutionally valid, but many people could view them as politically opportunistic.
He further said that such a move could particularly affect the political image of the DMK, which has historically projected itself around ideology, social justice and opposition politics. Nair said that in ideological terms, the DMK appeared closer to TVK than to the AIADMK, and joining hands with its long-time political rival only to remain in power could weaken its broader political narrative.
He added that the same questions would apply to the AIADMK as well, as the party had spent decades positioning itself against the DMK and such an arrangement could create discomfort among its cadre and supporters.
Drawing a comparison with Maharashtra politics in 2019, Nair said he had expressed similar views when the Shiv Sena formed an alliance with the Indian National Congress and the Nationalist Congress Party after the Assembly elections.
He said post-poll alliances between long-standing political rivals often create a public perception that ideology and electoral mandates become secondary when political power equations come into play.
Nair also said such developments increase public cynicism towards politics and reinforce the belief among voters that ideology is often sidelined after elections.
He maintained that the Tamil Nadu verdict was emphatic and said respecting both the spirit and substance of the mandate was important for the credibility of democratic politics.
