Latest news with #MVD
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
Vigilance raids at RTOs unravel widespread corruption across Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vigilance and Anti Corruption Bureau officials have detected widespread irregularities and corrupt practices during ongoing statewide raids at the regional transport offices (RTO)under the motor vehicles department (MVD). During the raid that began on Saturday morning, the Vigilance seized cash to the tune of Rs 1.4 lakh from 11 agents, who had brought it for distribution among corrupt officials in various offices. As many as 21 officials were also found to have received Rs 7.85 lakh through payment apps from agents as kickbacks. An amount of Rs 49,000 was found discarded on the premises of Nilambur Sub RTO, while an undisclosed amount was found concealed in the window of Vaikom Sub RTO. In Thiruvananthapuram RTO, an officer was found to have received Rs 16,000 from agents, while two officers of Varkala Sub RTO were found to have received Rs 82,000 from agents. An agent was caught with Rs 4,000 when he arrived at the Tiruvalla Sub RTO. The same person was also found to have sent Rs 2,500 to an officer via a payment app. At the same time, another agent was caught from Cherthala Sub RTO when he arrived at the office with Rs 10,000 in cash. At the Pala Sub RTO, two agents were caught while they were inside the office, which is a violation of rules. In Vandiperiyar Sub RTO, an agent was caught carrying Rs 16,000, while another agent was caught from Udumbanchola for possessing Rs 66,000. An Ernakulam RTO officer was found to have received Rs 71,500 from an agent, while an agent was nabbed from Guruvayoor Sub RTO for possessing Rs 2,240. In Nilambur Sub RTO, two officers were found to have received Rs 42,000 from agents, while a Tirurangadi Sub RTO official was found to have received Rs 40,000 from an agent. At Koduvally Sub RTO, cash transaction to the tune of Rs 2.15 lakh was found to have taken place between the officials and the agents, while at Vellarikundu Sub RTO, two officers were found to have received Rs 2.6 lakh from the agents. Corruption was also detected in
The Hindu
3 days ago
- The Hindu
Vigilance surprise raids unearth entrenched corruption in Kerala's Motor Vehicle department
The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (VACB) on Sunday (July 20, 2025) claimed it had uncovered 'widespread and entrenched corruption' in the Kerala State Motor Vehicle department (MVD). On Saturday, VACB officials, acting on intelligence collected covertly over several weeks, swooped down on 81 MVD offices across the State, as part of a centrally coordinated simultaneous operation code-named 'Clean Wheels'. The surprise inspections targeted 17 RTOs and 64 Sub-Regional Transport Offices (SRTOs). Investigators said clerical and enforcement officials at RTOs benefited from the racket. 'Perfunctory' examinations Top officials told The Hindu that a network of 'dishonest' MVD officials attached to the Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) had devised a variety of illegal methods to allow vehicles seeking fitness certificates and driving license aspirants to pass inspections by conducting 'perfunctory examinations', potentially jeopardising the safety of lakhs of road users, including motorists and pedestrians. Officials said that re-registration of ageing vehicles, issuance of fitness certificates, permits for lorries and buses, and conducting driving tests for permanent driving licenses were among the central avenues of corruption in the MVD. Official-agent nexus They stated that the surprise raids had revealed that officials worked in concert with agents who collected the bribe money from service seekers, which they then clandestinely passed on to the vehicle inspectors at weekends after taking a substantial cut. The agency stated that a significant portion of the bribes collected from the public was passed on to the officials by agents as UPI transactions. VACB investigators said a preliminary verification of the UPI transactions of several MVD officials revealed that they had illicitly received a total amount of ₹7,84,598. 'The amount is merely the iceberg's tip,' a senior official said. 'A common practice at RTOs is to reject online applications for registering new vehicles, transferring ownership of existing ones and issuing permits for commercial vehicles, citing minor errors, forcing the applicants to approach agents for the public service,' he added. The VACB found that applications 'attested' by agents were cleared quickly, without following any order of precedence. 'Scores of independent applications, including for license renewal, learner's license, international license and no objection certificate for inter-State vehicle transfers, gathered dust in RTO offices pending clearance because no middleman sponsored them,' an investigator said. RTOs caught off guard The VACB had timed the RTO raid for the weekend closing time on Saturday afternoon. The surprise inspections appeared to have caught RTO officials and their agents off guard. In Nilambur SRTO, agents found ₹49,300 'hastily thrown outside the window' by officials. The VACB confiscated ₹1,40,760 from agents across the State. Many were caught with huge sums of unaccounted money in RTO offices', an official said. The agency has detained at least 11 suspected intermediaries for questioning. Director General of Police, VACB, Manoj Abraham, supervised the anti-corruption drive.
New Indian Express
13-07-2025
- Automotive
- New Indian Express
MVD suspects fuel leak in Palakkad car explosion
KOCHI: The Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) suspects a fuel leakage as the cause of the shocking mishap in which a car exploded at Chittur in Palakkad on Friday evening when the ignition was turned on. A senior MVD official, who was part of the team that inspected the vehicle and prepared a preliminary report, said that the car was a Maruti-800, 2002 model, and registered in the name of the driver Elsy's husband Martin, who had passed away three months ago, and had remained unused since. Investigators suspect a fatal fuel leakage was at play. The MVD official explained that in cars manufactured after 2000 (MV-5 vehicles), petrol begins to flow to the engine as soon as the ignition key is turned. 'If any damage happens to the lines through which the petrol is injected, then fuel spillage will happen,' the official stated. 'As per our finding in the preliminary inspection, we suspect that fuel leakage might have happened even when the car was first started and taken out. There might have been some small spores [leaks], and the petrol might have spilled onto the start motor. When the lady turned off the car and alighted, the spilled fuel would have accumulated. Upon her return, when she tried to start the car again, the spark being produced at the start motor might have resulted in the fire. With the fuel continuing to flow to the engine, the flame got bigger and engulfed the car.' he added. The report added that the central locking system also got jammed because its wires quickly burnt, preventing the occupants from escaping the inferno. 'A detailed inquiry is on to find out the exact cause of the devastating fire,' the official added. On Friday, Elsy reportedly started the vehicle from its shed after nearly three months, parked it outside, and then returned to the house. After approximately half-an-hour, she came back to the car. While turning the ignition key, the car suddenly exploded and caught fire, which rapidly engulfed the vehicle, trapping Elsy and her three children inside. Locals quickly rushed to the spot, bravely breaking open the doors to rescue them. The children's grandmother, too, sustained burn injuries in her desperate attempt to pull them to safety.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Time of India
After near-fatal crash, calls grow to rein in private buses in Kochi
Kochi: Rash driving by private buses continues to endanger public safety in the city, despite Kerala high court directives and repeated enforcement efforts by authorities. In the latest incident highlighting the dangers of rash driving by private buses, a KSRTC bus veered off the road and crashed into an iron barrier along the approach road of a bridge at Munambam on Thursday morning, reportedly while trying to avoid a speeding private bus coming from the opposite direction. One passenger suffered fractures, while another escaped with minor injuries. Police said a case will be registered after recording the injured passenger's statement. In the first week of July alone, the motor vehicle department (MVD)'s enforcement wing booked four private buses for rash and negligent driving in the city. One of the cases was referred to court, as the bus was found posing a serious threat to other road users. The remaining three cases resulted in a total fine of Rs 4,500 for violation of traffic rules. The conduct of private bus drivers has drawn sharp criticism on social media, especially after private buses stayed off the roads for two days due to separate strikes. Many residents commented that city roads felt significantly safer without them. Director Jude Anthany Joseph wrote, "It was as if I had reached another country in the last two days. (Not forgetting the few who drive well)." Another user remarked, "Nearly 80% of drivers here drive like they're in a death race. No one seems to care how many families are affected by this recklessness." Amid growing incidents of rash driving and accidents involving private buses, the high court in April this year called for strict action against reckless driving by private buses. It also asked officials to continue with consistent efforts in this regard and ensure that private buses do not exceed the 35 km/h speed limit. Meanwhile, the police and MVD will launch a joint special drive from July 14 to 18 in the district to catch drivers operating buses under the influence of drugs. Suneer K B, general secretary of the Ernakulam Private Bus Operators Association, said private buses are unfairly blamed for all accidents, despite many involving other vehicles. "Whenever an accident occurs, fingers point only at us. KSRTC buses too drive rashly, yet no one raises a voice," he said. He added that city conditions make driving extremely difficult. "We're forced to cover one kilometre in just three minutes. The RTO rules haven't changed in 30 years, while vehicle numbers keep rising. No one sets up proper bus bays, and accidents often happen when pedestrians—especially women—try to cross in front of halted buses." He also criticised the MVD for issuing new permits despite worsening traffic.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
25 rural localities in Thiruvananthapuram lack access to bus services
Thiruvananthapuram: While public transport is essential for daily life, 25 rural areas across the state capital lack access to KSRTC or private bus services, according to a recent survey by the motor vehicles department (MVD). Though autos and taxis are available in some of these places, the absence of regular bus services significantly impacts residents—particularly school-going children, who are forced to walk long distances to reach their schools. The survey found that many students struggle to reach school on time and return late due to the lack of affordable, scheduled transport. Pukayilathoppe, Chemboor, Chullimanoor, Pallickal, Poovakkadu, Muthuvila, SN Puram, Korany, Mamam, and Chemmaruthy are among the places with no KSRTC or private bus services according to the survey conducted by MVD via its sub-regional transport offices situated in various parts of the district. These areas were identified in a public meeting called Janakeeya Sadasu, organized by MVD. MLAs, ward members, the police, officials from the revenue and public works departments (PWD), residents' associations, and members of the bus operators' union took part in the meeting. Following the meeting, the Attingal Road Transport Officer (RTO) has sent a formal request to the deputy transport commissioner (DTC), urging that bus services be initiated. The DTC forwarded the request to the transport minister's office, but a final decision is still awaited. "The minister's office has asked the PWD to inspect road conditions in these areas. If roads are deemed fit, we can move forward with introducing KSRTC buses or allowing private services. We are looking at addressing this issue without unnecessary delay," said an MVD official. Local panchayat members said private operators are willing to run buses but face delays in permit approvals. "We've made multiple requests for a route starting from Plampazhanji, three kilometres from Chemboor Junction," said Usha A, Chemboor ward member. "Residents of Plampazhanji and Manakodu must walk to Chemboor just to catch a bus. Earlier, there was a KSRTC service, but it was discontinued due to unknown reasons. Children walk up to six kilometres daily. Authorities must act and ease the burden on the people."
