Kollam court gives RTO agent six-year sentence in licence fraud case

The Kollam Vigilance Court has sentenced a regional transport office agent to six years of effective imprisonment in a case involving the fraudulent issuance of driving licences. The court also imposed a fine of ₹1 lakh on Muhammed Shafeeq, identified as the second accused. The sentences imposed for separate charges will run concurrently, resulting in a total prison term of six years.

The case relates to events between August 11, 2008, and January 2, 2009. According to the prosecution, the then Pathanamthitta Regional Transport Officer, Jojo James, and agents Shafeeq and Surendran entered into a criminal conspiracy. The prosecution said applicants were promised driving licences without having to attend the required driving tests.

Investigators found that entries for Light Motor Vehicle and Heavy Goods Vehicle licences, as well as badges, were allegedly added fraudulently to official records. The records were submitted with applications involving changes of address, according to the case presented in court. The prosecution alleged that unauthorised licences were issued through deception and forgery, generating financial gains for those involved.

The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau’s Special Investigation Unit-I in Thiruvananthapuram registered the case under provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Indian Penal Code. The investigation involved several officers, and a chargesheet was filed by Superintendent of Police K.E. Baiju.

Kollam Vigilance Court Judge C.S. Mohit convicted Shafeeq on charges including criminal conspiracy, cheating, forgery and using forged documents as genuine. Public prosecutors Divya P.S.

and Siju Rajan represented the prosecution. The source material said the other named individuals, Jojo James and Surendran, were deceased.