Black marketing of e-tickets busted in Mumbai

The anti-tout squad with two accused (centre) and seized desktops

The ATS has been cracking down on black marketing of train tickets amid a rush in travel for Ganeshotsav. But it's the different kind of ATS, not the Anti-Terrorism Squad. The anti-tout squad of Central Railway has seized e-tickets worth Rs 3 lakh from a tour operator in central Mumbai.

"In the festive season, Central Railway initiated a major crackdown on black marketing of e-tickets. The anti-tout squad, Mumbai division, commercial branch, with the help of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) conducted intensive checking drives against unauthorised ticket vendors," said CR chief public relations officer Shivaji Sutar.

"On September 10, an ATS team along with the RPF raided the premises of National Tours & Travels in Pydhonie and apprehended two people involved in illegal e-ticketing activities. They both confessed.

The team also seized two desktops, mobile phones, 122 e-tickets amounting to Rs 3,04,550. The accused were brought to RPF post Kurla and a case was registered against them under Section 143 vide CR No 457/2021," he added.

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A similar joint operation was conducted at Wadala East on April 25 and 36 e-tickets worth Rs 57,700 were seized. In another joint operation of chief vigilance inspectors and RPF Kurla, 151 e-tickets worth Rs 1,11,175 were seized at Bhayandar. All of the seized items were handed over to the RPF for further prosecution.

"During intensive checks and special operations between January to September 10 this year, the ATS team has arrested 19 touts and seized 475 e-tickets worth R7.22 lakh," Sutar said.

475
No. of e-tickets seized so far this year in multiple operations