RTO to seek NIC help to probe learner’s licence test scam

Nagpur: Taking cognisance of TOI report ‘Learner’s licence test held after office hours’, the regional transport office of Nagpur city is set to inquire into possibility of assistant motor vehicle inspectors being involved in the racket.
Deputy regional transport officer Atul Ade told TOI that the office would also approach the transport commissioner’s office in Mumbai and National Informatics Centre (NIC) to inquire into the case.

With the help of RTI reply from the transport department to Yuva Sena district President Nitin Tiwari, TOI has exposed how AMVIs posted at Nagpur city RTO office in Giripeth performed the improbable task of conducting learner’s licence (LL) test after office hours and also on government holidays.

Ade admitted most of the tests were conducted from different IP addresses other than the office IP address and NIC would inquire into it.

LL tests were conducted with the help of touts, hinted sources in the RTO. In connivance with touts, RTO officials including clerks and assistant motor vehicle inspectors conduct ‘special tests’ to issue LL.

Despite digitization of the licensing system, a visit to RTO on Monday revealed little had changed on the ground. Regional transport officer Sharad Jichkar has failed to curb the menace of touts at Giripeth office. TOI spotted many touts who have not only set up offices inside the premises but many, including senior officials and clerks, have allowed touts work like a department employee.

TOI has accessed the STALL report and found only a few applicants are shown as having failed the test, in order to ensure senior officers do not become suspicious of the pass rate.

For example, AMVI Mangesh Rathore had conducted LL tests for 6,997 applicants in the month of January 2018. Of them, 6535 passed, while 462 failed. Of the candidates, 4898 had appeared under VIP mode. Most candidates had appeared through ‘touts’, said sources. The modus operandi appears simple. The touts make some secret mark on applications and AMVIs assure the driving test of such people would be simple.

“They have a package system. If customers approach touts for two-wheeler licence, they charge Rs1,500, while it is anywhere between Rs2,500 to Rs3,500 if one wants both, the two-wheeler and car licence,” said Tiwari. He alleges involvement of all senior officials in city RTO and said he would also be filing a writ petition in the high court.