Police have found evidence linking alleged broker-cum-racketeer in Seraikela district transport office (DTO) Anwar Khan with Jamshedpur DTO as well.
Papers seized on June 15 from the Dhatkidih office of Khan, who is still absconding, point to links with Jamshedpur DTO.
Seraikela ASP K.V. Raman said the vehicle broker Khan appeared to be running parallel DTOs of Seraikela and Jamshedpur. If confirmed, the DTO office racket in Jamshedpur will be much bigger than in Seraikela.
"We have documents such as unprocessed driving licenses and certificates of vehicle registration which should ideally be at the Jamshedpur DTO," said Raman. "Once he is nabbed, we will grill him to find out in what capacity did he possess government papers at his office in Dhatkidih and how he was linked both to the DTOs."
On June 15, Seraikela-Kharsawan police conducted a raid at Khan's office in Dhatkidih after a transporter Kanhaiya Singh alleged the broker, posing as a DTO employee, demanded Rs 2 lakh from him ( Cops hunt 'parallel DTO' owner, June 16).
Transporters alleged corruption was rife in DTOs and the office of the motor vehicles inspector (MVI) in Jamshedpur.
"One has to pay Rs 2,500 for a driving license for four-wheelers and Rs 1,000 for two-wheelers in the Jamshedpur DTO. The official fee is just Rs 840 and Rs 140, respectively. Every day, about 10 licenses are issued for the four-wheelers and above and 25 licenses are issued for two-wheelers in the city office so you can imagine the amount of extra income," said a transporter.
Another transporter pointed out the corruption prevailing at the MVI's office. "Over 35,000 commercial vehicles operating in Jamshedpur have to undergo fitness tests of the MVI every three months. Most vehicle owners get fitness certificates without turning up before the MVI. You pay the Rs 500 fee and add another Rs 2,000 or Rs 2,500 extra and you get your certificate. Brokers like Anwar Khan exist for this reason," he said.
But, officials, when questioned, claimed innocence.
Jamshedpur district transport officer Sanjay Kujur said he had come to know many documents seized by Seraikela police during a raid at Khan's house had links with his office. "We'd like to know exactly how official papers that are supposed to be processed or kept at our office went to the broker's office," Kujur said.
Jamshedpur MVI Awadhesh Kumar Singh claimed that he issued fitness certificates after verifying them at Aambagan grounds on Tuesdays and Fridays. "No extra money is charged," MVI Singh claimed.
But, asked why commercial vehicles, including trucks, mini-trucks and buses, had never been spotted at the grounds on the two days mentioned, he kept quiet.
