The Railway Protection Force (RPF) in Ranchi has successfully dismantled an illegal ticket selling operation, arresting two individuals in separate raids conducted on Friday. The crackdown targeted agents who were exploiting travelers by selling railway tickets at significantly higher prices than their official value.
First Arrest: E-Ticket Racket Busted at Net World
In the first operation, RPF officials apprehended a man identified as Vinod Tudu. The arrest took place at a shop named Net World, situated at Pathalkudwa on Purulia Road in Ranchi. Investigations revealed that Tudu was allegedly involved in a sophisticated scam where he used his personal user ID to generate official Indian Railways e-tickets.
He would then sell these tickets to unsuspecting travelers at a premium, making an illegal profit. When questioned by authorities, Tudu failed to produce any authorised agent identification proof that is mandatorily issued by the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) for legitimate ticket generation.
The RPF team seized crucial evidence from his possession, including eleven railway tickets, a computer set, and a mobile phone, which are believed to have been used in the illicit operation.
Second Arrest: Tatkal Ticket Scam at Parking Gate
In a simultaneous but separate raid, the RPF nabbed another individual, Manoj Kumar. Kumar was arrested from the vicinity of the railway car parking gate. His modus operandi involved hoarding and reselling coveted tatkal tickets, which are meant for last-minute travelers, at heavily inflated prices.
This practice directly victimizes passengers in urgent need of travel. From Kumar, the authorities recovered two tickets that were being sold illegally. The swift action by the RPF prevented further financial exploitation of passengers at the railway station.
Crackdown on Unauthorized Ticketing
These arrests underscore a continued effort by the Railway Protection Force to clamp down on unauthorized ticketing activities that plague the passenger reservation system. Such illegal rackets not only cause monetary loss to citizens but also disrupt the fair and transparent system put in place by the railways.
The RPF has reiterated that only IRCTC-authorized agents are permitted to book and sell tickets, and any transaction outside this framework is illegal. Passengers are advised to always book tickets through official IRCTC channels or authorized agents and to report any suspicious overcharging or unauthorized sales to the RPF helpline immediately.
The two accused are now facing legal proceedings for their involvement in these illegal activities.
