Mumbai: In a sharp blow to document fraudsters, the Mumbai (West) Regional Transport Office (RTO) has uncovered a sophisticated vehicle clearance scam operating right under its nose. A formal First Information Report (FIR) was registered by the Amboli police on Monday night following a swift internal crackdown that exposed a syndicate attempting to clear vehicles using clever forgeries.The operation came to light when deputy RTO Swapnil Mane noticed glaring red flags while reviewing routine applications for address changes and hypothecation removals—the formal process of clearing a vehicle from bank finance. Five separate vehicle applications crossed his desk, appearing at first glance to be routine administrative paperwork.However, a closer look revealed a telltale pattern that blew the cover wide open. Despite belonging to completely different registered owners, all five applications shared identical residential addresses, matching mobile numbers, and suspiciously identical No Objection Certificate (NOC) templates purportedly issued by a financial institution.Refusing to let the paperwork slide, deputy RTO Mane immediately ordered Motor Vehicle Inspector Babu Teli to conduct an urgent physical and digital verification with the lender. The response from the financial institution left no room for doubt: the certificates were entirely fake, bearing forged letterheads and signatures, and had never been issued by the institution.Acting on strict directives from transport authorities, criminal proceedings were swiftly initiated against the culprits.Sources in Amboli police station said the complaint was only received yesterday, following which an FIR was lodged. “We will first have to investigate and gather evidence and thereafter arrests will be made,” the officer said.This timely intervention highlights the heightened surveillance and robust screening protocols currently enforced at the RTO to protect vehicle owners and curb financial fraud.Transport officials have warned that fraudsters targeting vehicle clearance documents will face severe legal consequences. Commuters and vehicle owners are urged to rely strictly on authorised channels and verified financial institutions for all hypothecation and transfer procedures to avoid falling prey to fraudulent syndicates.(Inputs from Nitasha Natu)
