Two officers from the Mumbai West Regional Transport Office (RTO), Andheri, have been suspended recently in connection with a fake driving license scam, where questionable driving tests were conducted on invalid vehicles in 2023-24.

The suspended officials, Assistant RTO Raosaheb Ragde and Motor Vehicle Inspector Umesh Devre, were placed under suspension following a probe conducted by the Transport Commissioner’s office.

According to the suspension order dated March 10, the Maharashtra Accountant General (Audit), Nagpur, flagged irregularities in the issuance of driving licenses at the Mumbai West RTO office during the financial year 2023-24.

The action was taken after an audit by the Maharashtra Accountant General (Audit-II) exposed how over 76,000 driving licenses were issued based on ‘fake’ driving tests conducted on ‘unauthorized’ vehicles, in connivance with agents and some officials.

Immediately, the Mumbai RTO launched a discreet inquiry, scrutinizing over one lakh driving licenses, their driving tests, documentation, and the officers overseeing them.

Startling details were unveiled during a test check of 1.04 lakh driving licenses through the online data of SARATHI, which processes DL applications after conducting the mandatory driving tests for applicants.

The audit revealed a shocking fact: out of the 1.04 lakh licenses scanned for 2023-24, a staggering 76,354 DLs—nearly 75 percent—were based on ‘suspect’ driving tests conducted on invalid vehicles.

After Thane-based social activist Binu Varghese tipped off the RTO about the CAG probe, officials were forced to act swiftly, as the issue had far-reaching implications regarding the questionable driving skills of thousands of drivers on the roads.

The audit report stated that only four vehicles—comprising two two-wheelers and two cars—were repeatedly used for conducting driving tests for various vehicle categories, ranging from scooters to heavy-duty cranes, to issue the 76,354 questionable driving licenses.

Of these, 41,093 driving licenses were issued using the two two-wheelers, while another 35,261 DLs were cleared using the two four-wheelers, suggesting potential malpractices. This ultimately led to the suspension of Ragde and Devre.

The auditors’ report highlighted that licenses for Light Motor Vehicles (LMVs) were issued, but the driving tests were conducted on two-wheelers (motorcycles).

The matter was raised in the Maharashtra Legislature in June 2024, where the government assured the Opposition Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) of a thorough investigation and appropriate action.

Pulling up the RTO, the auditors pointed out that, while processing the documentation for conducting driving license tests, neither due procedures were followed nor were vehicle details verified by authorized RTO Inspectors.