Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Sep 23: A vehicle clearance fraud involving forged documents has been uncovered at the Mumbai (West) Regional Transport Office (RTO), leading to the registration of a First Information Report (FIR) by Amboli police.
The scam came to light after Deputy RTO Swapnil Mane noticed irregularities while examining routine applications related to changes of address and removal of hypothecation, the formal process of clearing a vehicle from bank finance.
Five applications initially appeared to be regular administrative requests. However, closer scrutiny revealed several common details despite the vehicles being registered in the names of different owners.
All five applications carried the same residential address and mobile number and included No Objection Certificates (NOCs) that appeared to have been issued by a financial institution.
Suspecting foul play, Mane directed Motor Vehicle Inspector Babu Teli to carry out an immediate physical and digital verification of the documents with the concerned lender.
The financial institution subsequently confirmed that the NOCs were fake. The documents carried forged letterheads and signatures and had not been issued by the institution.
Following directions from transport authorities, criminal proceedings were initiated against those allegedly involved in the fraud.
An Amboli police official said the complaint was received on Monday, following which an FIR was registered.
"We will first have to investigate and gather evidence and thereafter arrests will be made," the officer said.
The RTO's intervention has highlighted the increased scrutiny and verification measures being adopted to detect forged documents and prevent vehicle-related financial fraud.
Transport officials warned that those involved in forging or using fraudulent vehicle clearance documents would face legal action.
Vehicle owners and commuters have been advised to use only authorised channels and verify documents directly with the concerned financial institutions while undertaking hypothecation removal, ownership transfer or other vehicle-related procedures.