The Government Railway Police at Rajendra Nagar Terminal arrested a man posing as a Traveling Ticket Examiner for defrauding passengers. The accused, identified as Praveen Kumar from Bhagalpur, allegedly cheated two travelers from Nalanda by promising them seats on a crowded train. Following an interrogation, the GRP sent the accused to judicial custody while efforts to locate his escaped accomplice are currently underway.
How the Fraud Was Executed at the Station
The victims, Deepu and Raja, reached platform number 2 to board the Sampoorna Kranti Express but found it difficult to find seats due to the crowd. Praveen Kumar and his associate approached them, claiming they could issue confirmed tickets on the spot. They collected 1,500 rupees and Aadhaar cards from the victims. In a tactical move, they also took a mobile phone from the travelers, claiming an OTP was required for the ticket verification process. Once they had the cash and the phone, both men disappeared into the train coaches.
Apprehension and Official Railway Guidelines
After realizing they were being cheated, the victims searched the train and found the suspects hiding in an AC-2 coach. While one man managed to escape, the crowd apprehended Praveen Kumar. To prevent such incidents, railway authorities have issued guidelines for passengers to verify the identity of official TTEs on duty.
- Legitimate TTEs must wear a black coat and a visible nameplate.
- Officials always carry a valid Railway Identity Card and a Duty Roster.
- Payments for Excess Fare Tickets are only made through official handheld terminals or printed receipt books.
- Railway staff never demand personal mobile phones to check for OTPs.
- Passengers should only book tickets through the UTS app, IRCTC website, or official station counters.
