Kota Racket Busted: 7 More Arrested in Rajasthan Free Exam Travel Scam
In a significant development under 'Operation Clean Ride', Jhalawar police have made seven additional arrests from multiple districts across Rajasthan, including Kota, Ajmer, Banswara, Jaipur, and Jhalawar. These arrests are part of an ongoing crackdown on the large-scale misuse and financial irregularities plaguing the state roadways' free examination travel scheme.
Expanding Investigation Following Initial Arrests
The latest arrests came after the interrogation of eight individuals who were apprehended on Friday, including the alleged mastermind of the racket. This sophisticated operation involved collusion among bus conductors, civil defence personnel, and contractual bus drivers, highlighting systemic vulnerabilities within the transport system.
Jhalawar Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar revealed that a confidential complaint was lodged at his office on December 24. The complaint alleged that a gang, led by Narendra Singh Rajawat, was intimidating roadways bus conductors and extorting money from them. Following a meticulous inquiry that spanned over a month, a formal case was registered at the Kotwali police station in Jhalawar.
Uncovering the Scam: How the Scheme Was Exploited
Police investigations have uncovered extensive misuse of the free travel scheme, which is designed to assist candidates appearing in competitive examinations. Under this scheme, examinees are permitted free travel in ordinary express buses from two days before to two days after their exam date.
However, authorities discovered that some contractual bus conductors and drivers were engaging in fraudulent practices. They falsely reported that 50% to 75% of their revenue targets were comprised of free exam tickets, while in reality, they were collecting full fares from passengers. Consequently, only 25% to 50% of the actual revenue was being deposited with the roadways, leading to significant financial losses.
Evidence Points to Organized Misuse
During the raid conducted on Friday, a substantial number of exam admit cards were recovered from Radheyshyam, a resident of Kota. This discovery strongly indicates organized and systematic misuse of the scheme, suggesting that the racket was well-coordinated and widespread.
Further investigation revealed that permanent bus conductors and civil defence personnel, who work as conductors and do not have fixed revenue targets, were allegedly supplying admit cards to an organized group. This group, in turn, provided these cards to contractual bus drivers and conductors to facilitate false accounting and cover up their illicit activities.
Scrutiny Widens: More Arrests Likely
Deputy Superintendent of Police Harshraj Singh stated that the role of other roadways staff, including members of the flying squad, is currently under scrutiny. He indicated that additional names are likely to emerge soon as the investigation progresses, potentially leading to more arrests and exposing deeper layers of corruption within the system.
The ongoing 'Operation Clean Ride' underscores the authorities' commitment to rooting out corruption and ensuring the integrity of public welfare schemes. As the probe continues, it aims to restore trust in the free examination travel initiative, which is crucial for supporting students across Rajasthan.
