New Delhi: Delhi Government’s anti-corruption branch (ACB) has arrested three people for allegedly getting fitness certificate issued to commercial vehicles in lieu of money. The role of officials of vehicle inspection unit (VIU) in Burari is also being ascertained, ACB officials said.
“The accused included Surjeet Singh, an RTO manager at an authorised Tata dealership in Krishna Nagar, Sachin Lamba (44), who worked as an agent of officials of VIU, Burari, and Lamba’s tout Kundan Kumar Yadav,” said Madhur Verma, ACB chief.
On Friday, a transporter complained to the ACB that officials at VIU Burari were allegedly forcing him to apply for the renewal of fitness certificates of his commercial vehicles through a tout, Kundan. When contacted telephonically, Kundan assured him that the certificates would be issued on payment of Rs 2,400 as bribe. The complainant had recorded the conversation.
A raiding team was constituted, and phenolphthalein powder was applied on the notes to be given for bribe. Kundan was handed over Rs 4,300, including the bribe amount of Rs 2,400. After evading arrest initially, the suspected tout was nabbed when the procedure for procuring fitness for second vehicle was being completed.
During interrogation, Kundan informed that he worked for Lamba who used to give him Rs 500 as commission for every new application and his duty was to give the collected fees and bribe to Lamba. At his behest Lamba was arrested.
“Lamba informed that as per procedure every commercial Tata vehicle has to be physically produced before Surjeet and only after testing and verification by him, the concerned vehicle gets the certificate. Lamba would send information to Surjeet through WhatsApp and without testing or verification, he used to provide the clearance certificate for which, he used to give Rs 1000 per vehicle to him,” added Verma.
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