Lucknow/Basti: A major irregularity in the Uttar Pradesh transport system has come to light with the exposure of a large-scale fake driving licence racket operating in Basti district. Preliminary findings suggest that a brokers’ syndicate, allegedly in connivance with officials, facilitated the issuance of over 4,500 fraudulent driving licences, collecting nearly ₹4.75 crore from unsuspecting applicants.
According to the investigation details, the syndicate manipulated the system by creating fake backlog entries through Arunachal Pradesh locations such as Seppa and Siang. The driving licences are then processed in Basti as legitimate renewals or address changes. This method allowed applicants from multiple districts, including Mirzapur, Sant Kabir Nagar, Padrauna, and Gorakhpur, to obtain licences without following mandatory procedures.
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Several cases have surfaced where individuals’ licences were falsely registered. For example, a licence belonging to Ramtirath Maurya, originally linked to Mirzapur RTO, was reportedly backdated through a fake entry from Seppa in 2018 and later converted in Basti in 2026 under an address change request. Similarly, Manish Yadav’s licence, associated with Padrauna, was manipulated using a fake backlog entry from Arunachal Pradesh before being renewed in Basti. Another case involving Karan Gupta shows similar fraudulent processing using entries from Siang.
Mandatory Driving Licence Procedures Bypassed
Sources indicate that dozens of such licences were issued without proper verification, bypassing fundamental rules such as learner licence issuance, mandatory driving tests, and required holding periods. In many cases, applicants were directly issued permanent or even heavy vehicle licences without completing the learner stage or mandatory one-year experience requirement.
Under standard procedure, a learner licence must first be obtained through an online application and test. After a minimum of one month and within six months, applicants are required to pass a driving test at the RTO office. Only then is a permanent licence issued and delivered via post. However, in this racket, these steps were allegedly ignored entirely.
Technical Loopholes and Middlemen Under Probe
Investigators believe the syndicate operated by exploiting technical loopholes and administrative weaknesses. Backlog entries were created artificially, followed by address change or renewal requests routed through Basti RTO, allowing fraudulent licences to be generated and distributed. The alleged involvement of middlemen ensured smooth processing in exchange for payments averaging ₹10,000 per applicant.
Officials estimate that more than ₹4.75 crore may have been collected through this illegal operation. Reports also suggest that a portion of the funds may have been shared with insiders, raising serious concerns about institutional complicity.
Basti Transport Division Comes Under Scrutiny
The Basti transport division, which covers districts such as Sant Kabir Nagar and Siddharth Nagar, is now under scrutiny. While key administrative officers are posted in the region, questions are being raised about how such large-scale irregularities went unnoticed. The system’s failure to detect fake entries and unauthorized processing has triggered concerns about oversight mechanisms.
The scam also highlights the misuse of the digital driving licence system introduced after 2013, which replaced manual records with online databases. Despite digitization, the syndicate allegedly exploited outdated data handling practices by inserting fake entries from external states and later modifying records locally.
Road Safety Concerns and Wider Network Angle
Officials admit that learner licences were not issued in several cases, and mandatory procedures for heavy vehicle licences were bypassed entirely. This raises broader concerns about road safety, as unqualified drivers may now be operating vehicles with illegally obtained licences.
The Transport Department has acknowledged the seriousness of the issue, stating that road safety remains a priority, but administrative gaps must be addressed. A detailed inquiry has been initiated to identify all individuals involved, including middlemen and possible internal facilitators.
Authorities are also examining whether this racket is part of a larger statewide or inter-state network. Further action is expected as the investigation progresses, with potential cancellation of fraudulent licences and legal proceedings against those involved.
