It is hard to believe but true. As many as 40 thousand drivers have been found in possession of fake driving licenses, obtained without undergoing the required legal procedures.
Several of the fake license holders have come under police net. However, the number could go even higher as police have doubts of involvement of a huge racket behind fake licenses throughout the country.
Drivers are required to undergo a driving test and should have a sound knowledge of road traffic rules. However, an alarmingly significant number of drivers have been found to be possessing licenses sans the required legal procedures.
Police on last November 8 seized a fake driving license 06-055834 possessed by Man Bahadur Moktan from Kalimati of Kathmandu. Earlier, police seized a fake license possessed by Bhunsang Dorje Lama from Koteshwor in September, last year. These are some representative cases.
According to SSP Basanta Pant, chief of the Metropolitan Traffic Police Division, Kathmandu, they have seized a total of 33 fake driving licenses in the last four years.
The number of seized fake licenses:
Fiscal Year 2014/15 – 14
Fiscal Year 2015/16 – 8
Fiscal Year 2016/17 – 8
Fiscal Year 2017/18 – 4
The Metropolitan Police Circle, Durbar Marg recently apprehended a group of fraudulent people involved in fake driving license racket. According to the police, persons involved in this racket had been issuing a license with a minimum charge of around Rs 20 thousand each. The group is active for the last six years, and has been found to be issuing at least 12 fake licenses a day. So far, this group has issued 26 thousand fake licenses.
According to police, the group involved in the racket uses fake documents, government stamps, and signatures. “These are criminal offences,” a traffic official said.
According to police, they are investigating the case to find out the location where these groups work on fake licenses. In fact, these groups basically target the people who are going abroad.
There are several groups involved in this business. According to the record of registered vehicles and legal licenses at the Department of Transport Management, around 40 thousand drivers are believed to be holding fake driving licenses.
However, Gokarna Prasad Upadhyay, spokesperson at the Department of Transport Management, expressed ignorance over the issue. “Yes, we have been reading reports on newspapers but we do not have any official information,” he informed.
He also brushed aside allegations about the involvement of Department officials in the scam. Traffic police authorities, however, suspect of the involvement of a huge racket adding that they have been working day and night to unravel the network.
According to police, they are investigating the case to find out the location where these groups work on fake licenses. In fact, these groups basically target the people who are going abroad.
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