Lokayukta raids six Bengaluru RTOs, uncovers large-scale irregularities

The Karnataka Lokayukta on Friday conducted surprise raids across six Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in Bengaluru following several complaints from the public.

The raided locations included Yeshwanthpur, Rajajinagar, Jayanagar, Yelahanka, Kasturinagar and K.R. Puram.

Acting on specific intelligence, Lokayukta B.S. Patil directed six teams comprising judicial and police officers to simultaneously inspect the RTOs on Friday around 1 p.m.

At the Yeshwanthpur RTO, the officers found 32 stationery and photocopy shops inside the premises abruptly shut as soon as the inspection began. Several employees were absent without authorisation, and discrepancies were found in attendance and cash declaration registers. Out of 32 employees, only seven had marked attendance, and none had properly declared their cash holdings.

The officials also found two ‘agents’ on the premises, one caught with ₹14,000 unaccounted cash. The office had also kept 2,095 printed driving licences pending dispatch.

At the Rajajinagar RTO, similar irregularities were detected, with 3,800 driving licences and 6,300 smart cards pending printing. The RTO attributed the delay to outsourcing the task to a private firm, which allegedly failed to deliver.

During visits to Jayanagar and Yelahanka RTOs, Upa Lokayuktas K.N. Phaneendra and B. Veerappa found poor maintenance of attendance, cash, and movement registers. Hundreds of registration cards were found undelivered for months, while over 1,200 vehicles in the Yelahanka jurisdiction were plying without paying taxes or valid fitness certificates.

At the Kasturinagar RTO, several irregularities came to light. A private shop, Maruti Motors, run by one Rajinikanth, was found holding 49 vehicle registration certificates and 83 driving licences, along with official seals, all of which were seized. The Lokayukta directed criminal proceedings against the Regional Transport Officer, Assistant Transport Officer, superintendent, and a private individual for illegally keeping public documents.

The K.R. Puram RTO also reported missing staff, incomplete registers, and deleted phone records. Over 1.5 lakh vehicles in the jurisdiction had expired fitness certificates, and the office failed to produce records or issue proper notices.

Justice Patil has directed detailed follow-up investigations and submission of comparative reports on financial transactions, staff conduct, and pending public services across all six RTOs.