Surat Police SOG Cracks Down on Fake Learning Licence Scam
The Special Operations Group (SOG) of the Surat police has successfully dismantled a sophisticated fake learning licence racket operating in the Kapodra area, leading to the arrest of four individuals. Officials confirmed the bust, which resulted in the seizure of 16 forged licences allegedly produced using a document-editing application.
Raid and Arrests in Mansukhnagar
Acting on a credible tip-off about illegal document preparation activities in the Mansukhnagar locality, SOG officials conducted a targeted raid on Saturday evening. The operation led to the apprehension of four accused persons: Prajesh Maniya (26), Dharmendra Shekhadiya (37), Praful Gajera (35), and Ravi Gangadiya (35). During the subsequent search, police recovered 13 counterfeit licences from Maniya and one each from the other three suspects. All the seized documents featured different names, photographs, and addresses, indicating a widespread fraudulent operation.
Modus Operandi of the Racket
Police investigations revealed that the accused posed as Regional Transport Office (RTO) agents, charging unsuspecting customers between Rs 7,000 and Rs 10,000 for fake learning licences. The group operated in a coordinated manner: Gajera and Gangadiya were responsible for sourcing clients and collecting necessary documents, which were then passed on to Shekhadiya. Shekhadiya would input the details into the official Parivahan Sewa portal to create an appearance of legitimacy but deliberately halted the process before completion. Instead, the group produced counterfeit licences and delivered them to customers after receiving payment.
Maniya played a crucial role in the final stage, using a mobile application to edit a standard licence format and print the forged documents. Police Inspector M R Solanki noted a critical flaw in their operation: "The accused repeatedly used the same QR codes on multiple licences, only altering names and photographs, which helped us identify the fraud." This oversight ultimately led to their detection and arrest.
Legal Actions and Ongoing Probe
A formal case of cheating and forgery has been registered at the Kapodra police station against all four accused. They have been booked under charges including forgery of government documents and cheating, among other offences. The police have obtained a three-day custody of the suspects to further investigate the extent of the racket. Inspector Solanki stated, "We are probing the duration of the racket and the number of people cheated to ensure all victims are identified and justice is served." This bust highlights the vigilance of Surat police in combating document fraud and protecting public safety.
