The Jaipur Regional Transport Office (RTO) has launched a major crackdown on a sophisticated scam involving the illegal allocation of coveted seven-digit 'vintage' vehicle registration numbers to new vehicles. Authorities have issued formal notices to more than 2,000 vehicle owners whose documents are now under a cloud of suspicion.
Massive Verification Drive Scheduled
In a decisive move, the RTO has announced a three-day physical verification camp to scrutinize all related documents. This camp will operate from December 24 to December 26. Officials have made it clear that any discrepancies or forged documents discovered during this process will lead to strict legal action against the vehicle owners involved.
As an immediate measure, the registration certificates (RCs) of all suspected vehicles have been flagged on the national VAHAN portal. They have been placed under a "not to be transacted" status. This lockdown means the owners cannot sell or transfer these vehicles, and they are barred from accessing any services offered by the transport department until the issue is resolved.
Investigation Halts Number Series
A senior RTO official provided deeper insight into the scale of the investigation. Over 90 vehicle number series within the seven-digit category have been put on hold indefinitely. The special verification camp is being organized by RTO Jaipur (I) to facilitate a fair and thorough probe. "All these vehicle number series will remain on hold until the verification process is conclusively completed," the official stated.
Roots of the Scam and Internal Action
This fraudulent activity first came to light in March of this year when officials at RTO Jaipur (I) detected irregular backlog transactions being recorded in the system. Following the initial discovery, a deeper probe was initiated, leading to the current widespread action.
The transport department has also turned its focus inward. On November 25, it issued a directive to all its regional and district offices. The order mandates the filing of First Information Reports (FIRs) against any departmental staff member found to be complicit or involved in facilitating this vehicle number plate scam.
The case highlights a significant loophole in the vehicle registration process, where desirable 'vintage' numbers were allegedly misallocated through fraudulent means, bypassing official channels and likely involving bribes. The ongoing investigation aims to clean the records and penalize all parties involved, from corrupt officials to complicit vehicle owners.
