Bengaluru: A series of coordinated raids conducted by the Karnataka Lokayukta on six Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) across Bengaluru has exposed widespread irregularities, including the issuing of fake driving licences, manipulation of vehicle records, and alleged misconduct by staff and middlemen. The surprise inspections, carried out over multiple locations on Friday, have placed the city’s transport regulatory system under renewed scrutiny, raising concerns over the integrity of public service delivery in one of the country’s fastest-growing metropolitan regions.
The raids were conducted at the RTOs located in Indiranagar, Koramangala, Yelahanka, Jayanagar, Rajajinagar, and Chandapura, following months of surveillance and preliminary intelligence gathered on alleged malpractice. Sources within the Lokayukta team said that strong leads had pointed to a network involving brokers, data entry operators, and officials who worked together to issue licenses and registration certificates without proper verification.
Allegations of corruption and fake documentation
According to officials, one of the most disturbing findings was the issuance of driving licences without mandatory driving tests. In several cases, documents recovered during the raids suggested that applicants who had never appeared for tests were issued licences using backdated entries and false approvals uploaded to the transport database.
Investigators also found irregularities in vehicle registration records, where chassis numbers and ownership details appeared to have been tampered with. Such manipulation, officials said, could allow stolen or illegally modified vehicles to be legitimised with valid documents.
Preliminary seizure reports include:
- Dozens of fake or unverifiable driver licence applications
- Documents showing inflated or illegal service fees collected via agents
- Evidence of middlemen operating from outside RTO premises
- Irregular entries in the Vahan and Sarathi online systems
Officials said that some staff members had been working in collusion with external agents, who approached applicants, collected bribes, and fast-tracked approvals in exchange for payments ranging from ₹2,000 to over ₹12,000 depending on the service.
Staff under inquiry
At several RTOs, employees were questioned on the spot and statements were recorded. Data entry operators and clerical staff are expected to face departmental and possibly criminal action once formal reports are compiled. Senior officials indicated that transfers and suspensions are likely to follow.
A senior Lokayukta officer, speaking on condition of anonymity, said:
“The extent of malpractice uncovered is serious. This is not negligence – it appears systemic. We are mapping the involvement of each official. Action will follow.”
Public frustration and long-standing complaints
For years, citizens have complained about inefficiency, long waiting periods, and the influence of agents in Bengaluru’s RTOs. Despite online systems being introduced to reduce human interference, applicants have continued to rely on brokers who promise faster approvals — often implying that official channels are intentionally slowed down.
Transport department employees, meanwhile, argue that staff shortages and workload lead to operational difficulties, though this does not justify the misconduct now under investigation.
Next steps
The Lokayukta will submit a detailed report to the state government after completing document verification and digital audits. Criminal proceedings may be initiated if evidence of bribery and fraud is confirmed.
The Karnataka government is expected to consider reforms, including:
- Rotation or reshuffling of staff
- Increased surveillance at RTO offices
- Stricter monitoring of online system access
- Possible phasing out of intermediaries
Conclusion
The raids have reopened the debate on corruption in public-facing government offices in Karnataka. While digital reforms were intended to bring transparency, the findings suggest that systemic loopholes continue to be exploited. Citizens are now watching to see whether the inquiry will result in meaningful accountability or fade away like previous crackdowns.