Ludhiana: Vigilance department could reopen an investigation into road tax evasion

AMRITSAR: Vigilance bureau in Ludhiana has reportedly reopened an inquiry into road tax evasion fraud worth crores of rupees being committed allegedly in connivance of a few motor vehicle agency owners and some of the employees of transport office.
Though the vigilance department is tight-lipped about the reopening of the inquiry into the scam yet sources informed many heads could roll including that of some "bigwigs" as the re-investigation into the scam gathers movement.
According to sources, the registration of vehicles was allegedly done at much lower the original price of the vehicle to evade the road tax.
Giving example, sources informed, "If value of a vehicle is Rs 14 lakh, a duplicate bill for Rs 4 lakh was generated of the same vehicle by the agency and on basis of which the regional transport office would show the receipt of road tax received on Rs 4 lakh whereas customer had to pay the road tax on Rs 14 lakh value of the vehicle", adding that the road tax on vehicles below Rs 20 lakh was around 9 % while it was around 11%.
The vigilance department had in December 2018 initiated an inquiry into the alleged scam and had also indicted a senior official of the transport department and two to four clerks who were allegedly involved in the scam, however, no action was taken against the agencies who were hand in glove with the employees of the transport department.
"The inquiry couldn’t reach a logical conclusion and was suspended under pressure but now again it is being reinvestigated", said sources.
When contacted Darbar Singh, secretary, Regional Transport Authority, admitted that there was a scam of this nature but added that the defaulters had deposited the tax evaded by them. However, he expressed ignorance whether the investigations was being re-opened.