Statewide RTO raids in professional tax scam

The Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) conducted raids at Regional Transport Offices (RTO) in Navi Mumbai, Chinchwad, Pimpri, Kolhapur, Sangli, Jalgaon, Aurangabad, Dhule, Nandurbar and Ahmadnagar on Tuesday. They seized documents pertaining to professional tax from these offices although they are yet to make any arrests. The professional tax scam in the RTO could be a multi-crore one.

Almost ten days ago, ACB officials raided the Thane RTO office, following a tip-off that a racket was being run in Thane RTO whereby fake documents including bank challans relating to collection of professional tax from commercial vehicles were being made.

“The information was verified through a discreet inquiry, during which they succeeded in laying hands on a few bank challans, in connection with collection of professional tax, which were found to be fake. It was thus obvious that the amounts collected towards professional tax from commercial vehicles were being pocketed by RTO officials and their agents,” said an ACB official.

There was quite a bit of panic when the ACB officials visited several RTO offices at one go. Few of the RTO officials even started running. Licensing and registration agents who keep roaming around the premises started fleeing, leaving behind their belongings.

Niket Kaushik, additional commissioner of police, informed that the raids will continue and that a team of experts including RTO officers and auditors will examine the veracity of the documents.

Categories: JALGAON NEWS