Bhubaneswar: Puri police on Monday seized nearly a dozen fake Rath Yatra passes from persons attempting to misuse them for special privileges during the annual festival. Officials said the district administration issued authorised passes to govt staff, servitors, departmental officers, NGO representatives, journalists and other approved people to ensure the smooth conduct of services, security and administrative functions.These passes allowed access to restricted zones near the chariot cordon and permitted unhindered movement of two‑wheelers and four‑wheelers along stretches otherwise closed to general traffic.“To curb misuse, we set up strict checking points at all entry routes. During inspections, several people tried to gain entry using counterfeit passes, which were immediately seized,” Puri SP Prateek Singh said. “As of now, we have not arrested anyone. Those carrying fake passes were let off with stern warnings, but the passes were confiscated,” another senior police officer said.Police authorities stressed that preparing, using or supplying fake passes is a punishable offence. “We are investigating how these counterfeit passes were printed and circulated. Anyone found involved will face stringent legal action,” Singh said.
