LUCKNOW: Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has busted an alleged racket involving forged FASTags and fake vehicle registration numbers used to evade toll tracking and online traffic challans, leading to revenue losses estimated in crores of rupees.A key accused, Manish, 28, from Sitapur district, was apprehended near Engineering College Chauraha in Madiaon on Monday.STF officials said the arrest was made during investigation of a case registered at Sarojini Nagar police station under various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).Investigators said the racket primarily involved heavy vehicles transporting overloaded mineral material, including morrang, across national highways in Uttar Pradesh.To avoid enforcement action, operators allegedly used forged FASTags linked to fictitious registration numbers so that any challan generated during transit would be issued against a non-existent vehicle rather than the actual offender.According to STF, one vehicle with registration number UP32 ZN 8925, owned by Riyaz and allegedly operated with his brother Siraj, was being run using a forged FASTag mapped to the fake registration number MA34 S 9455.Additional SP (STF) Satyasen said Siraj allegedly procured the forged FASTag through an IndusInd Bank FASTag agent near Khairabad toll plaza in Sitapur.To obtain the tag, investigators said, he submitted a driving licence, a mobile number and a forged registration certificate carrying the fictitious vehicle number.STF officials said the FASTag was not permanently affixed to the vehicle. Instead, it was allegedly carried separately by the driver and shown manually while crossing toll plazas.Receipts generated using the forged tag were then retained and produced during route inspections when required.During interrogation, Manish allegedly told STF he drove the vehicle for Siraj and was paid Rs 1,500 per trip.He also claimed he was instructed on how to use the forged FASTag to avoid detection and online penalties.Manish was produced before a court and sent to judicial custody.
