Expert alleges scam worth crores in issuance of driving licences
On the basis of complaints, Vigilance raided RTO offices and 32 driving test centres across the state on April 7.
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Licences were issued without undertaking mandatory driving test, the pictures of licence holders were clicked and affixed on the licences with them not even visiting the track for driving test. (Source: File Photo)Former vice chairman of the Punjab transport department, Kamal Soi on Wednesday said that scam worth crores in issuance of driving licences had taken place in the department under which untrained drivers were issued licences putting scores of lives under threat. Addressing the media in Chandigarh, Soi said that every year Rs 800 to Rs 1000 crore was being pocketed by the mafia every year in the name of issuing new licenses in the transport department.
He added that the licences were issued without undertaking mandatory driving test, the pictures of licence holders were clicked and affixed on the licences with them not even visiting the track for driving test. He said 30 per cent of total licences issued to women were fake.
Recently, after receiving 422 complaints from 19 RTO offices, the vigilance raided 28 RTOs in the state. Soi alleged that the vigilance was investigating the scam when the government suspended two officers, including vigilance chief SPS Parmar. He said these suspensions had taken place under pressure from the mafia.
He added that the government argued that the vigilance was not taking action against the corrupt. “Whereas by suspending Parmar, the government has actually helped the mafia. It was known to everyone that the scam was going on in the office as five to six lakh new licenses are issued every year,” he said, seeking an investigation by a sitting High Court judge. “The mafia could not have functioned without the connivance of people sitting in high positions in the department.
On the basis of complaints, Vigilance raided RTO offices and 32 driving test centres across the state on April 7. In this, some 24 arrests were made and 16 FIRs were registered. Vigilance arrested Ramandeep Singh Dhillon, who was on a high post, but RTO Mohali Pradeep Singh Dhillon and RTO Ravinder Kumar Bansal of SBS Nagar absconded. Why has the police not being able to arrest them yet,” he asked. He said the truth needed to come out. “Was the former Vigilance chief suspended because the scam was being unearthed and many big names would have figured in this,” he asked.
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