Nagpur: Amidst the summer vacation rush, a concerning development has emerged involving the looting of passengers by unauthorized ticket agents. The Railway Protection Force (RPF) recently made a significant breakthrough in this matter, with the seizure of tickets worth Rs 83 lakh from a broker in Nagpur. The accused has been identified as Praveen Zade, a 43-year-old resident of Professor Colony, Hanuman Nagar.
During the operation, RPF officials confiscated two laptops, one mobile phone, a printer, and various other materials from Praveen’s possession. Upon examining the data on the laptops and mobile phone, shocking revelations came to light. The investigation uncovered a software that operates on the pass hotline, enabling the simultaneous booking of multiple instant and general quota tickets with just one click.
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Wed 16 Oct. 2024
Praveen stands accused of defrauding numerous passengers, with the total value of the procured tickets surpassing Rs 1 crore. The diligent efforts of the RPF team, led by PI R L Meena and comprising PSI Priyanka Singh, ASI Ashwini Pawar, Sonawane, Ramniwas Meena, Amol, Lalit Gujar, Shyam Sarleyam, and Mohanlal Diwangan, aided in bringing this illegal operation to light. Senior DSAC Ashutosh Pandey provided crucial guidance throughout the investigation.
Airport raid: SECR RPF maintains silence:
Meanwhile, in a separate incident at Nagpur Airport, the RPF and Crime Branch of South-East Central Railway have maintained silence regarding the arrest of a ticket broker. Harshit Dinesh Joshi, aged 33, was apprehended at the airport’s ticket reservation counter. Upon conducting a raid, authorities seized tickets worth Rs 8,395 from him.
It has been reported that these tickets were acquired unlawfully from the airport ticket counter itself. Although Harshit holds a license from IRCTC and operates as an authorized agent, he was surreptitiously collecting tickets for outsiders at the airport center. Following the raid, Harshit was taken into custody and transferred to the RPF post in Nagpur. A case has been registered against him under the Railway Act.
The RPF and the Crime Branch continue their efforts to curb these illegal activities and safeguard the interests of passengers. The authorities are urging the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious or unauthorized ticketing practices to ensure a safe and secure travel experience.
