Central Railway Exposes Fraud in Foreign Tourist Ticket Quota
CR uncovers foreign tourist quota fraud
Hindustan Times
Image: Hindustan Times
Central Railway (CR) in Mumbai has uncovered a fraud involving the misuse of the foreign tourist quota, with 39 irregular bookings identified among 174 generated PNRs. The investigation revealed Indian citizens occupying berths reserved for foreign nationals without valid documentation. Authorities are probing potential organized syndicates behind the fraudulent activity.
- 0139 out of 174 foreign tourist quota bookings were irregular.
- 02The investigation began after passengers were found without valid documents.
- 03Penalties of ₹3,56,916 were recovered from the fraudulent bookings.
- 04Authorities suspect organized syndicates may be involved.
- 05Special checks will continue to ensure legitimate passengers receive their berths.
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Central Railway (CR) has revealed a significant fraud involving the misuse of the foreign tourist (FT) quota for train tickets in Mumbai, India. Over a nearly 50-day period starting April 24, officials discovered that 39 out of 174 Passenger Name Records (PNRs) were irregularly booked under this quota, which is intended for foreign passport holders. The issue came to light after ticket-checking staff on the Sanghamitra Express found Indian citizens occupying berths designated for foreign nationals without the necessary documentation, such as foreign passports or valid visas. Following this discovery, CR initiated a comprehensive audit that led to the identification of these irregular bookings and the recovery of penalties amounting to ₹3,56,916. Passengers traveling without valid documents were removed from their berths, which were then reassigned to legitimate passengers with reservation against cancellation (RAC) and waitlisted tickets. Authorities are now investigating the possibility of an organized syndicate behind these fraudulent transactions and have requested additional data from the Indian Railway Catering and Tourism Corporation (IRCTC) to determine if authorized booking agents were involved. CR has stated that special checks will continue to ensure that berths are allocated to rightful passengers as the summer travel season progresses.
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This investigation aims to ensure that legitimate travelers can access the foreign tourist quota, potentially affecting their travel plans during the busy summer season.
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