‘Extortion’ racket: More Gurugram transport dept officials under scanner now

Police had initially booked a transport department inspector, a sub-inspector (SI) and another suspected broker

Published on: Sep 22, 2023, 23:05:24 IST

By Leena Dhankhar

Prefer HTon Google

Share via

Copy link

Over a week after three suspects were arrested for allegedly extorting money to issue various certificates and permits for newly purchased vehicles, the role of 60 brokers working with the transport department is under the scanner, said police.

Besides, two senior transport department officials were also booked in the case and are on the run, police said, adding that they are now investigating the role of two more senior police officers in the case.

Police said that the arrested suspects revealed during questioning that there are nearly 60 brokers who are working closely with the transport department officials.

A special investigation team (SIT) under the supervision of deputy commissioner of police (crime) Vijay Partap Singh, was formed earlier this week to probe the case.

DCP Singh said that the SIT questioned many people from the department who are familiar with the operations. “The suspects revealed some crucial information that may lead to more arrests. The suspects were produced in a city court and were sent to 14-day judicial custody,” he said.

Police had initially booked a transport department inspector, a sub-inspector (SI) and another suspected broker.

Explaining their modus operandi, an official familiar with the investigation said that after receiving money from vehicle owners, the brokers would pass on the documents to officials of the transport department. For passing on this information, the brokers would get ₹25,000 a month from the transport department officials involved.

DCP Singh also said that these brokers would use code words to specify the amounts they received from vehicle owners. They would pass on this amount to senior transport department officials to get work done quickly, he added.

Besides, the suspects also revealed the names of two more transport inspectors in the case.

“After submitting the file to the department, a list was prepared by the RTA inspector and then he used to collect money from all the brokers,” the DCP said.

Jitender Gahlawat, RTA secretary and the district transport officer, did not respond to HT’s requests for comments.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Leena Dhankhar
Leena Dhankhar is Senior Editor and Bureau Chief, Gurugram, at Hindustan Times, where she has spent over 17 years chronicling the transformation of one of India's fastest-growing urban regions. From starting her career as a crime reporter to leading the Gurugram bureau, her journalism has been defined by investigative reporting, in-depth storytelling and an unwavering focus on public interest. Over nearly two decades, she has reported extensively across crime, politics, civic governance, elections, real estate, environment, courts, sports, education and entertainment, covering Gurugram, Faridabad, Nuh and Palwal. Her reporting has exposed several major scams and systemic failures, including insurance frauds, waste management irregularities, illegal arms manufacturing units in Nuh, illegal mining in the Aravallis, organised crime networks and governance lapses affecting millions of residents. Known for her investigative work and exclusive stories, Leena has reported on high-impact national issues, including the Nicaragua charter flight carrying Indian migrants that was turned back amid allegations of human trafficking, exposing the growing network of illegal immigration rackets. Her work has also focused on gang wars, prison administration, juvenile crime, women and child protection systems, the functioning of the Juvenile Justice Board and Child Welfare Committee, and environmental challenges such as pollution, waterlogging and deteriorating civic infrastructure. Beyond hard news, Leena has extensively documented Haryana's rich heritage, forests and wildlife, bringing attention to the state's historical landmarks, biodiversity, conservation efforts and ecological challenges through immersive reportage and feature writing. Her journalism has consistently gone beyond breaking news. She has documented Gurugram's rapid urbanisation through long-form narratives and enterprise reporting on issues ranging from pothole-ridden roads, flooding and waste management to the changing social fabric of India's Millennium City. She also writes widely read feature columns, including The Outsider, Changemaker, and Concern for Gurugram, profiling people, places and ideas shaping the city's identity. Leena is the author of Gurugram School Murder, published by Juggernaut Books, a deeply reported account of one of India's most high-profile school murder investigations. She is currently working on her second book, an investigative work exploring some of India's most significant scams and fraud investigations. Beyond print journalism, she has expanded her storytelling through public speaking and digital media. She is a TEDx speaker and has produced podcasts exploring Gurugram's transformation, civic challenges and untold stories. Her work reflects a commitment to narrative journalism that combines rigorous reporting with compelling storytelling. A law graduate with an MBA in Human Resources, Leena brings a multidisciplinary perspective to her reporting, particularly on governance, public policy and legal affairs. She has travelled extensively across India to pursue investigative assignments, often reporting from remote locations and conflict-prone areas in search of stories that matter.Read More