Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 1: A Kollam Vigilance Court has sentenced a former agent of the Pathanamthitta Regional Transport Office (RTO) to a total of 28 years of rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 2.5 lakh in a case involving the issuance of fake driving licences and forged documents.

Kollam Vigilance Court Judge Dr Mohit C S on Wednesday found Muhammed Shafeeq A, 47, a native of Adoor in Pathanamthitta, guilty of issuing driving licences and related documents without following mandatory legal procedures.

Although the court imposed different sentences under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code, they will run concurrently. As a result, Shafeeq will serve an effective jail term of six years.

The case relates to irregularities during 2008-09, when Shafeeq, the then Pathanamthitta RTO and another agent allegedly collected money from applicants seeking new driving licences, addition of Light Motor Vehicle (LMV) and Heavy Passenger Vehicle (HPV) categories, badge endorsements and changes of address.

According to the Vigilance, licences were issued without conducting mandatory driving tests and other verification procedures. Forged documents were also prepared and submitted to facilitate the issuance of the licences.

The Vigilance had registered the case against the then RTO, Shafeeq and another agent. The former RTO, who was the first accused, died during the trial, while the third accused died during the investigation.

Public Prosecutors Divya P S and Siju Rajan appeared for the Vigilance. The investigation was conducted by officers of the Vigilance Special Investigation Unit-I, Thiruvananthapuram, including former Deputy Superintendent of Police M H Latheef.