The Hindu : Front Page : ACB raids RTA head office, 20 arrested

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jul 24, 2007
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Front Page

ACB raids RTA head office, 20 arrested

Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD: Computerisation may have helped expedite other official processes, but it would certainly not help provide a corruption-free culture, anti-graft officials found during a surprise raid on the Road Transport Authority (RTA) in Khairatabad on Monday.

The four-hour-long search on the sprawling RTA premises led to the arrest of two RTA officials and 15 brokers, who were freely moving around the offices.

Authorities seized Rs 40,000 from the touts and also found that two RTA senior assistants and three transport constables were carrying the unaccounted money.

Money found

Following complaints that the staff was demanding bribes for issue of driving licences and for renewal of registration certificates, Anti-Corruption Bureau officials led by DSP M. Yohan raided the RTA office and arrested 20 persons, the staff and brokers too.

Senior Assistants Jagan Naik Arya and S. Vani were found to be in possession of Rs. 2,650 and Rs. 880 respectively, while constables A. Venkateshwar, O. S. Sastry and M. Nageswara Rao had over Rs. 5,000 with them.

Nearly Rs. 40, 000, six driving licences, 45 RC books and 15 mobile phones were recovered from the 15 brokers, of which six were automobile showrooms agents.

Responsibility

ACB officials said it was the responsibility of the authorities to prevent brokers from entering the premises.

However, they were moving freely and offering ‘services’ to the applicants by giving bribe to staff.

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