One Arrested, Hunt On for Co-Accused as Five Modified Jeeps Worth Rs 25 Lakh Seized
Chandigarh, April 8, 2025 –
In a dramatic crackdown reflecting Punjab’s zero-tolerance stance on corruption, the Vigilance Bureau (VB) Bathinda Range uncovered a sophisticated scam during a surprise inspection at the Regional Transport Authority (RTA) office in Bathinda. The operation exposed a racket involving the registration and sale of unfit vehicles using forged documents, leading to a case against three accused—Naveen Kumar, Inderjeet Singh, and Naresh Kumar. While Naresh Kumar, the owner of Nagpal Body Maker in Dabwali, Haryana, has been arrested, raids are underway to apprehend the remaining culprits.
The Scam Unraveled
A VB spokesperson revealed that the accused trio, in cahoots with transport officials, orchestrated a fraudulent scheme to register and sell condemned vehicles at inflated prices. The operation hinged on five scrapped Mahindra & Mahindra jeeps (1993 and 1996 models), for which fake No Objection Certificates (NOCs) were secured from Gujarat—despite the vehicles never reaching Bathinda. The perpetrators purchased these wrecks from various states, falsified NOCs, and exploited a rental agreement with an unsuspecting Rajesh Tuteja to manipulate records.
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The vehicles were then revamped at Nagpal Body Maker on Sirsa Road, Dabwali, before being fraudulently registered at RTA Bathinda with counterfeit paperwork. Sold to oblivious buyers at premium rates, the modified jeeps—valued at Rs 25 lakh—netted the accused hefty profits. Following the discovery, VB’s Bathinda Range raided the Dabwali workshop, confiscating all five vehicles and exposing the depth of the deceit.
Legal Action and Arrests
The VB has registered FIR No. 11, dated April 7, 2025, charging Naveen Kumar (NFL Colony, Bathinda) and Inderjeet Singh (Dhobiana Road, Bathinda) under Sections 7-A and 13(1)(A) read with 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act, alongside Sections 318(4), 336(2), 338, 336(4), 340(2), and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Naresh Kumar, the Dabwali workshop owner, has been named and arrested, with VB teams fanning out to nab the absconding duo.
Wider Probe Underway
The spokesperson emphasized that the investigation is far from over. “We’re digging deeper to uncover any complicity by RTA Bathinda officials or other private players. Anyone found guilty will face the full force of the law,” he warned, signaling a relentless pursuit to dismantle the corrupt network.
A Blow to Fraud
The seizure of the Rs 25 lakh jeeps and the arrest of Naresh Kumar mark a significant victory in Punjab’s anti-corruption crusade. As raids continue and the probe widens, the VB’s swift action sends a stern message: fraudulent schemes exploiting public trust will not go unpunished.
