WESTERN RAILWAYS TICKET CHECKING TEAM NABS SEVERAL FAKE ID CARD HOLDERS
Western Railway currently runs 506 Special Suburban services for Essential Services Staff as notified by Govt. of Maharashtra.
Considering the present scenario of pandemic, WR has consistently advised that only specific essential staff categories as notified by Govt. of Maharastra, should travel in these special suburban services. However, in the latest development in this regard, Western Rly has detected several cases of fake ID card holders who have been travelling in the Special Suburban services.
According to a press release issued by Shri Sumit Thakur – Chief Public Relations Officer of Western Railway, in the wake of such fraud cases being detected special drives are being conducted at stations. on an average, daily 20 cases of dubious/suspicious ID cases have been detected and penalized. Since the start of special local trains from 15th June till 2nd October 2020, five FIR cases have been registered with GRP in fraud ID cases under various sections of Indian Penal Code. Total 4,555 cases of Without Ticket & Unbooked Luggage cases have been detected and an amount of Rs. 23.24 lakhs has been recovered as penalty. During one of the special drives at Borivali station, a person with a laminated Identity Card was detected, which looked suspicious. The ID cum authority had the picture of the holder with Aadhar card with WR logo along with letter number. on further probing of the suspect about his nature and place of work, it was revealed that he works at a construction site in Borivali and had procured the authority letter fraudulently. The suspect was handed over to GRP and FIR was lodged. In another such regular ticket checking activity, a passenger was caught at Andheri station with a forged Identity Card. During the course of interrogation, he revealed that he works in a photocopier shop and his boss had given him fake ID cards for other employees too. He also revealed that atleast 50 to 60 persons are carrying these fake emergency passes. The suspect was handed over to GRP and an FIR was lodged. Two other individuals were nabbed at Borivali station for carrying fake ID cards issued by same agent. The agent was arrested and is now out on bail. In another checking activity at Mira Road, another person detained with a suspicious ID card, confessed to procuring fake ID card of Cleaning Staff of BMC at the cost of Rs. 1000/-and has been handed over to the GRP after interrogation.In yet another instance, a person getting down at Vile Parle station and holding MCGM ID card was questioned about his nature of job. He admitted to be working for a private firm in Vile Parle and thereafter, he too was handed over to GRP and FIR registered in fake ID case. All these incidents are just the tip of the iceberg and Western Railway is trying its best to unearth this big scam.
Shri Thakur has requested the public to cooperate with the present norms and follow the instructions given for their own safety. He said that travelling with unauthorized Identity Card, is a punishable offence. Hence, Western Railway appeals to passengers that only those specific essential categories, as notified by Govt. of Maharashtra from time to time should travel in these special local trains.
