Surat Police Uncover Fake License Racket

The Special Operations Group (SOG) of Surat police has successfully dismantled a fake learning license racket operating in the Kapodra area. Four individuals were apprehended during a raid conducted on Saturday evening in the Mansukhnagar area following a tip-off.

The accused, identified as Prajesh Maniya, Dharmendra Shekhadiya, Praful Gajera, and Ravi Gangadiya, allegedly posed as RTO agents. They charged customers between Rs 7,000 and Rs 10,000 for counterfeit learning licenses. Police seized 16 forged licenses during the operation.

Gajera and Gangadiya were reportedly responsible for sourcing clients and collecting their documents. Shekhadiya would then use the Parivahan Sewa portal to create an illusion of legitimacy before the official process was bypassed. Maniya allegedly used a mobile application to edit a standard format, incorporating altered names and photographs, and then printed the fake licenses.

Investigators noted that the same QR codes were repeatedly used on multiple licenses, with only names and photos being changed. The accused have been booked under charges of forgery and cheating. Authorities have secured a three-day police custody to investigate the full extent of the racket and identify all potential victims.