In a crackdown on groups involved in illegal selling and buying of railway reservation tickets, the special team of Railway Protection Force (RPF) has arrested 149 touts so far this year in Bangalore division.
A fine amount of `6.50 lakh has been collected from the touts. In addition, the team recovered railway reservation tickets worth Rs 4.77 lakh and cash of Rs 1.88 lakh from them.
They have been booked under section 143 of the Railways Act for unauthorised procuring and supplying of railway tickets.
Rs 3,000 per ticket
S Louis Amuthan, Senior Divisional Security Commissioner of RPF said the touts deployed by the travel agencies queue up before genuine passengers and block the tickets including tatkal tickets. These tickets would then be sold for `3,000 and more depending on the demand. The ticket fare is also collected along with this money, he added.
The touts are paid between Rs 100 and Rs 200 for standing in the queue and getting the reservation done. After the special raids, the touts have shifted their base to other states, Louis said.
Recent case
The team recently nabbed Nagaraj (39), a resident of HAL at MG Road railway passenger reservation centre on charges of selling and buying railway reservation tickets in an unauthorised manner.
They had seized railway tickets worth Rs 28,185. Further, the accused pointed out a travel office located in Kumbarapet Cross. When the office was searched, 54 railway reservation tickets valued at Rs 1.38 lakh, 79 cancelled reservation tickets and invalid reservation tickets were recovered. The owner Ranajit Jain (27), a resident of Nagarathpet was arrested.