RTO goofed up, but my auto was seized, says Mumbai rickshaw driver on vehicle permit duplication

Sahu has been trying to get back his auto-rickshaw for almost 3 years. Pic/Atul Kamble

The Amboli police registered an FIR against unknown Andheri RTO officers and agents involved in creating a duplicate permit and issuing an auto-rickshaw license. The Andheri RTO, instead of taking action against the officers and agents involved, had seized the auto-rickshaw of 43-year-old Ramesh Shrikari Sahu in 2021 as its permit had been duplicated and sold to someone else. Sahu has alleged that someone was fraudulently using his permit number for another vehicle between March 1, 2013, and March 15, 2021. The FIR was registered by the Amboli police after he went on a hunger strike at the Andheri RTO office.

Sahu resides at Yogiraj Ashram Chawl on CST Road in Kalina, Santacruz East. He has been driving an auto-rickshaw since 2004 but obtained a permit in 2018. At the time, he purchased an auto by taking a loan of Rs 2 lakh. "Every two years, I have to have to get RTO clearance for the vehicle and in October 2020, while renewing the permit, I discovered that my auto-rickshaw number had been blacklisted by the RTO," Sahu said.

Speaking with mid-day, Sahu said, "I met RTO officer Hemant Patil regarding the blacklisting and was told a correction would be made. A few days later, I received a bank notice in which my auto number and bank names were different. I met Patil again and informed him about a duplicate permit being issued, and that someone was running an auto-rickshaw using my name on the permit."

Sahu was then told to meet another officer Shyamrao Shete to whom he provided a copy of his school leaving certificate, as instructed, but the case was transferred to Ashok Pawar at Andheri RTO. Pawar asked him to bring the vehicle and documents to the RTO office. On April 12, 2021, when Sahu reached the office, Pawar seized the vehicle and documents. Sahu was asked to furnish other documents but nothing was done despite him submitting them.

"The RTO has also seized the other vehicle running on my permit. But my vehicle is legal and instead of exposing the officer, they seized my vehicle. My auto is in scrap condition at the RTO office. Even if I get it back now it will not be usable as parts have been damaged or stolen," he said. Sahu is currently renting an auto-rickshaw for Rs 300 per day to make a living.

Deputy Regional Transport Officer Pallavi Kothawade said, "The police are investigating the matter. We already conducted an internal inquiry." Raosaheb Ragade, assistant regional transport officer at Andheri RTO said, "We seized both vehicles as a duplicate permit was issued from the system."

Speaking with mid-day Deputy Regional Transport Officer Ashok Pawar from Andheri RTO said, "I met Sahu only once but I was not handling this case. I am not aware of this incident and the investigation is being carried out by other officers." According to Assistant Police Inspector Suresh Valvi of Amboli police, they are close to arresting the agent involved in the racket. "We have also sent letters to the RTO office and are identifying the officers involved."

Rs 300
Amount paid daily to rent auto-rickshaw