A comprehensive investigation has uncovered a massive vehicle registration and insurance scam operating across several transport offices in Rajasthan. Official records show that 2,394 vehicles were registered using completely fake chassis and engine numbers that do not exist in the systems of major manufacturing companies. The network targeted stolen or loan-defaulted trucks, changed their identities using forged documents, registered them in multiple states, and later claimed false insurance payouts worth crores of rupees.
Fake Registrations Passed Through Multiple States
The syndicate operated by first identifying heavy commercial trucks that were either stolen or permanently defaulted on loans. Members then tampered with the physical engine and chassis numbers on the vehicles to erase their previous identities. Using fake rent agreements and false local addresses provided by agents, the trucks were initially registered in northeastern states like Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh. Once these vehicles entered the central Vahan portal database in those regions, the scammers systematically transferred them to transport offices in Rajasthan for a fresh registration.
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Overlapping Profiles Reveal Fake Theft Reports
A detailed check of police files showed that the exact same people were repeatedly listed as owners, drivers, and witnesses across entirely separate truck theft cases. For example, a truck with registration number RJ 36 GA 5544, registered in Beawar under an owner named Kalu Ram, was reported stolen on May 17, 2019, securing an insurance claim of Rs 20.56 lakh. Another truck, RJ 48 GA 1747, registered in Kekri under Devilal, was reported stolen on January 20, 2020, with a payout of Rs 28 lakh. A third truck, RJ 11 GB 3830, registered in Dholpur under Ravi Kumar, was reported stolen on October 15, 2019, yielding a claim of Rs 23 lakh. Records confirmed that a single individual named Parmeshwar was listed as the active driver in all three independent theft cases.
Regional Breakdown Highlights System Vulnerabilities
When investigators cross-checked the data with automobile manufacturers, the companies confirmed in writing that they never produced these chassis and engine numbers. Out of the 2,394 fake registrations found across Rajasthan, Jhunjhunu district recorded the highest volume with 540 vehicles. This was followed by Bhinmal with 490, Dausa with 263, Dholpur with 250, Jaipur with 171, Balotra with 88, Sirohi with 62, Shahpura with 57, Bhilwara with 57, Chittorgarh and Jodhpur with 53 each, Udaipur with 37, and Dungarpur with 36 vehicles.
The investigation revealed that during this period, transport offices in Rajasthan did not have an online system to verify manufacturing data directly with the automobile companies. The scam network actively exploited this loophole to manually enter false vehicle data into the official portal. The large scale of the racket indicates a strong network involving local agents, insurance dealers, and transport department staff. Police are continuing to check other suspicious vehicle files.
