In Uttar Pradesh, a joint team comprising district administration officials, police personnel, and the special operations group launched a major surprise crackdown at the Regional Transport Office in Kanpur on Monday afternoon. To secure the premises and prevent anyone from escaping, around 50 police officers clad in bulletproof vests entered the facility and immediately ordered both gates to be shut. The sudden administrative action triggered widespread chaos and panic among the people and suspected middlemen present inside the compound. While several individuals scrambled for cover, a few managed to flee by scaling the boundary walls. However, alert security personnel chased them down and successfully rounded up 22 alleged middlemen.
Intensive Checks Lasting Three Hours
The entire raid operation continued for nearly three hours. During this period, the teams thoroughly inspected files, documents, computers, laptops, cash registers, and digital records across various departments within the RTO office. Additionally, police and administrative officials checked the unauthorized vendor shops operating just outside the office premises. Upon getting wind of the sudden crackdown, several vendors hurriedly shut down their stalls and left the area.
Cash Discrepancies Found With the Challan Clerk
During the inspection, around one lakh rupees in cash was reportedly found in the possession of enforcement room challan clerk Mridul Mishra. According to officials, Mishra failed to provide a satisfactory explanation or account for the money on the spot. The team promptly seized the cash and relevant documents to initiate a detailed inquiry. Meanwhile, a mismatch was also detected during the counting of funds in the cash department. It was reported that cash department clerk Vipin Kumar was short by nearly 15,000 rupees. Administration officials stated that discrepancies ranging between 5,000 to 7,000 rupees and other amounts were also discovered during the reconciliation of funds kept at various locations within the office, and all these points are currently under active investigation.
Closed-Door Interrogation of the RI and Biometric Counter Checks
During the raid, ADCP Special Operation Sumith Sudhakar Ramteke questioned RTO Regional Inspector Santosh Yadav behind closed doors. Teams of officials also visited various sections to gather information directly from the staff. Along with scrutinizing computers and laptops, the team seized necessary documents and secured digital evidence to determine the scale of alleged irregularities within the office. Furthermore, the police and administration team visited Sarthi Bhavan, where biometric work relating to vehicle licenses at counter number six was inspected. Upon questioning staff member Mujahid Faruki, it was revealed that due to a technical glitch, the portal was non-operational until 12 noon, disrupting the biometric process, after which around 15 biometrics were completed between 12 noon and 3:30 PM.
Crackdown Triggered by a Truck Driver Complaint
According to SDM Sadar Anubhav Singh, the administration had been receiving continuous complaints regarding the functioning of the RTO department. The immediate trigger for Monday's action was a fresh complaint lodged by a truck driver named Kamta Prasad. The driver stated that he was transporting goods in his truck when his vehicle was intercepted near Bhaunti Bypass by an RTO enforcement team, and a challan was issued for various rule violations. The driver alleged that he was charged a total of 26,700 rupees, but was handed a receipt for only 21,700 rupees, pointing out a discrepancy of 5,000 rupees between the actual payment and the official receipt. Upon receiving this complaint, the district administration treated the matter with utmost seriousness, formed a special team, and raided the RTO office around 1:30 PM on Monday.
Driver Raises Questions Over Seat Belt and Horn Penalties
Complainant Kamta Prasad explained that penalties relating to seat belt and horn violations were also added to his truck's challan. He claimed that he had raised strong objections regarding the action taken over the seat belt inside the commercial vehicle. He further asserted that he held a valid heavy motor vehicle driving license. According to Kamta, after being forced to pay 26,700 rupees against a lower receipt amount, he approached the district administration, which ultimately set the wheels in motion for the sweeping inquiry.
Drone Surveillance and Detention of Middlemen
While conducting operations inside the RTO complex, the police team deployed drones to maintain aerial surveillance over the surroundings and monitor potential escape routes. The unexpected raid created a tense atmosphere for a long duration, during which a minor verbal spat reportedly broke out between police personnel and a lawyer. Nevertheless, the raiding team continued their inspections and finalized the collection of office records.
22 Middlemen Handed Over to Kakadeo Police
Following the three-hour operation, police handed over the 22 detained alleged middlemen to the Kakadeo police station for further legal proceedings. While some individuals managed to slip away during the chaos, authorities are now interrogating those caught to determine their exact role inside the office and identify which employees or external actors they were collaborating with. The investigative team has seized essential documents, CCTV footage, and digital logs from the RTO premises, with officials confirming that initial probes have exposed grave irregularities in cash handling and fund reconciliation.
