Patna: Gopalganj district transport officer (DTO) Shashi Shekhram and additional DTO (ADTO) Ruchi Priya have been served show-cause notices by the state transport commissioner over the alleged irregular passing of 448 candidates in driving tests between Aug 19 and 22.The notices were issued after the transport department’s Sarathi portal was allegedly accessed using an unauthorised user ID to mark the candidates as having passed their driving tests. State transport commissioner Arif Ahsan issued separate notices to Shekhram and Priya on Aug 25, asking them to submit their explanations within 24 hours.The matter came to light through a report submitted by Gopalganj motor vehicle inspector (MVI) Anand Kumar to the department on Aug 24. While checking applications, Kumar found that candidates had been marked as having passed using a user ID named ‘Ruchi Priya’. He pointed out that no MVI by that name was posted or deputed in Gopalganj.Kumar recommended that the user ID be deactivated immediately and that legal and departmental action be initiated for the alleged violation of rules.A subsequent departmental inquiry found that Ruchi Priya is the ADTO posted in Gopalganj. According to the department, the roles of testing authority and approval authority on the Sarathi portal are separate. An MVI is authorised to conduct driving tests, while the ADTO functions as the approval authority.The inquiry found that an ID for the testing authority had allegedly been created in Priya’s name and used to mark 448 candidates as having passed their tests. The department has termed the alleged use of the ID a violation of the prescribed division of responsibilities and online system rules.The commissioner also questioned the role of DTO Shekhram. In the notice issued to him, Ahsan said it appeared that the DTO had used his master user ID to create an unauthorised ‘Learner Licence Testing Authority’ user ID in Priya’s name.The notice termed the alleged disobedience of departmental orders and misuse of the master user ID serious. Ahsan sought an explanation from Shekhram on why disciplinary action should not be initiated against him for allegedly undertaking unauthorised work and violating prescribed powers. In the case of Priya, the commissioner sought an explanation on why she should not be suspended and face departmental proceedings.Copies of the notices have also been sent to Scientist-F of the National Informatics Centre (NIC) and its senior director (IT) for a technical investigation into the matter.Shekhram had earlier faced allegations of involvement in the issuance of fake driving licences while holding additional charge as Darbhanga DTO. In June 2025, then Darbhanga Sadar-1 SDM Amit Kumar directed the arrest of Shekhram, clerk in charge Kumar Gaurav, programmer Vikramjeet Pratap and data-entry operator Rupesh Kumar in connection with the case.The direction followed an FIR registered at Laheriasarai police station on Jan 1, 2025. Shekhram subsequently went underground after the arrest order and later obtained anticipatory bail from the Patna high court.According to official sources, no departmental action had been taken against him in that case.
