The Uttar Pradesh STF has uncovered a long-running racket that enabled overloaded trucks to pass through Lucknow’s entry points without mandatory checks. The operation, built on the alleged nexus between transport department insiders and private brokers, functioned on a fixed rate of ₹6,000 per laden vehicle.
The STF arrested Abhinav Pandey, a broker from Siddhauli in Sitapur, and Kapil, a dumper driver from Kanpur’s Sajeeti Kuria village. During questioning, Pandey admitted that he charged ₹7,000 per truck, out of which ₹6,000 was allegedly handed over to transport officials and staff to secure a “smooth passage” for the vehicle.
WhatsApp Lists Used to Flag ‘Cleared’ Vehicles
According to investigators, the entire chain operated through pre-shared WhatsApp lists. Brokers would send truck numbers and payment confirmations to designated contacts. Once the vehicle was marked “cleared”, it was neither stopped at any checkpoint nor subjected to weighing or document verification.
The STF found that trucks flagged on this list crossed the city’s entry points without resistance, indicating a coordinated system that had been running for months.
Names of Several Officials Emerge in Probe
Interrogation of the arrested duo brought multiple officials and employees under the scanner. Those named include:
- ARTO Raju Bansal
- Constables Anuj and Girijesh
- PTO Manoj Bhardwaj
- Vinod Yadav, former RTO’s driver
- Ritesh Kumar, brother of the arrested broker
- Sunil Sachan, associate
On the STF’s complaint, the Madiyaon police have registered a case against nine persons under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1998 (Sections 7 and 12) and IPC sections related to cheating, fraud and conspiracy.
Cash Trail Backed by Documents and Devices
The STF recovered five mobile phones, diaries containing entries, registers, a PAN card, driving licence, Aadhaar card, a car, a dumper, mineral transport papers, weighbridge slips and tax invoices. Officials say the material matches the statements made by the accused regarding the money trail and truck lists.
ACP Aliganj Arib Khan confirmed that the FIR has been filed and further investigation is underway.
Parallel Crackdown in Raebareli and Fatehpur; Nine Officials Still Absconding
In coordinated operations linked to the same network, the STF has intensified action in Raebareli and Fatehpur as well. Broker Mohan Singh and truck driver Sunil Yadav were produced before the court and subsequently sent to jail.
The list of absconding officials includes:
- Raebareli ARTO Pushpanjali Mitra
- Fatehpur PTO Akhilesh Tiwari
- Raebareli ARTO Ambuj
- and several others—totalling nine fugitives.
According to the STF, this racket generated daily collections running into lakhs, translating into crores of rupees every month. Investigators believe that similar clearance systems may be active in multiple districts across the state.
