TEAM TNV
Panaji (Goa)
The State Transport Department exposed a major fake PUC Certificates racket that has brought under scanner over 100 vehicle owners besides the prime accused, who is on the run. The accused were trapped in a well-planned operation by a team of Transport officials who sent their official vehicle to obtain the PUC Certificate.
A complaint filed by Deputy Director (Transport) Prakash Azavedo stated that the Proprietor of M/s West Coast Garage and Industries, located near Old Bus Stand in the capital, issued forged PUC certificate to vehicle GA-03-G-1234 which was used by the advisory committee for PUC surprise check whereas one Manoj Shirvoikar impersonated as Engineer/Incharge of PUC certificate to endorse the same as genuine.
“The accused persons authorized to issue PUC certificate under letter of authority issued by the Transport Department and valid till August 8, 2018, hatched a criminal conspiracy with the staff to cause loss to the government revenue and executed it by forging, fabricating and manufacturing forged PUC certificate and issued the same to vehicle number GA-03-G-1234 of Directorate of Transport which was used by the advisory committee for PUC surprise check,” the FIR states. A day after Panaji police registered an offense under sections 465 (forgery), 467 (forgery of valuable security, will, etc), 419 (cheating by personating), 471 (using as genuine forged document), 473 (making or possessing counterfeit seal, etc) and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code; the owner and his son absconded while Shirvoikar was arrested yesterday.
The arrested accused statement to the police has revealed that a vehicle would arrive at the premise, every two-three days, with stacks of documents to be endorsed as genuine for PUC Certificate. Shirvoikar, police inspector Siddhant Shirodkar said, has claimed he was unaware about the racket and would sign on the books as instructed by his owner.
Investigation has also led the police to a major nexus wherein over 100 vehicle owners have now come under the scanner. PI Shirodkar said they are in the process of issuing them summons to record their statements. “In many cases, it has been nexus between the agency and the vehicle owners,” the officer said even as the matter is pending investigation.
