KATHMANDU: Despite strict measures to curb the use of fake licenses, a considerable number of people are found to have been driving sans license.

The number of people carrying fake licenses has been considerable, too.

Metropolitan Traffic Police arrested Ashish Giri of Sindupalchowk driving with a fake license and a car along with 38 fake licenses on 9th December.

According to SSP Janak Bhattarai, the Chief of Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, Giri was found to have made fake smart licenses changing the name and address of the deceased of the number that was canceled without renewal in time in collusion with the staff of the Transport Management Office.

“Ashish Giri, Sindhupalchowk, was a co-driver of a bus till a few years back,” SSP Bhattarai told Khabarhub, “Later, he made a network at the Transportation Office working as a middleman for the people who visited the office for a license. Later, establishing a network in the office, he is found working as a middleman for fake licenses.”

Giri was arrested by a team from the Victim Assistance Unit of the Division along with an I-20 car, 38 fake licenses, and checks of various banks.

According to the police sources, he is also found to have been making licenses for Nepalis living abroad. For it, he has been levying Rs 30,000 to 100,000 for a license.

The police investigation shows that Giri has procured a remarkable amount of bank balance, a private car, and a house in Bhaktapur with the amount he collected from the business of the fake license.

This is just a representative case. The statistics at the Metropolitan Traffic Division shows the instances of 106 driving license found in the last four years and five months.

According to the police investigation officers, the transport staff and the traffic police have also been involved in making fake licenses. However, the Department of Transport Management defies the allegation of collusion.

“No connection of the department’s staff has been established till date, it may have been printed by outside intermediaries,” Gogan Bahadur Hamal, the Director-General of the Department told Khabarhub.

SSP Bhattarai also claims that the gang of making fake licenses made the seals and cards themselves.

Frequency of fake licenses

Metropolitan Traffic arrested a gang involved in making fake driving licenses two years ago. The gang members had stated to the police that they would sell up to 12 licenses daily.

The investigations also revealed that the gang had been making fake driving licenses continuously for six years.

According to police, the group alone had produced more than 26,000 fake licenses before the police arrest. Apart from that there are various other gangs also making licenses.

Considering the statistics of vehicles and the number of license holders registered with the Department of Transport Management, it is estimated that there are around 40,000 fake licenses in Nepal. However, no official figures are available yet.

What does the trend say?

According to the experts, those involved in fake licenses initially identify the people who need a driving license and demand money according to their paying capacity.

The research shows that racketeers claim Rs 30,000 or more and provide and prepare the license.

Former DIG Keshav Adhikari, an official who had also been the in-charge of Metropolitan Traffic Police, the details of those involved in preparing the license and supplying them often goes unrevealed.

Investigation also revealed that such gangs are trading licenses to those who go abroad than to those staying here.

According to the traffic police, fake licenses are one of the main reasons for most of the road accidents in the country.