BHUBANESWAR: The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has cracked yet another illegal ticket seller who used multiple personal IDs to book train tickets and recovered from his possession e-tickets worth over ` two lakh.
Gulzari Ahmed Ansari, a 38-year-old resident of Majhihara under Balipatana police limits, was arrested by Bhubaneswar RPF after keeping active surveillance on his ticket selling activities. At least 62 tickets, which had been sold, and journey availed and another unused six tickets were recovered from him.
A team led by Sub-Inspector AK Singh tracked down Ansari’s outlet at Majhihara where the tickets, a laptop and other accessories were seized. The accused was engaged in illegal ticketing business for the last two to three years. He used to collect anything from `40 to `100 for sleeper class tickets and `100 to `300 for AC class tickets as commission.
Singh said Ansari had created at least 10 personal IDs on the IRCTC website where he used to book tickets. As per norms, a personal user is allowed just one ID while authorised agents can get themselves registered with IRCTC for commercial booking of tickets.
Earlier, one youth of Cuttack was arrested and from his possession, tickets worth ` one lakh were seized. The RPF has been tracking the network of illegal e-ticket agents in the East Coast Railway Zone and has prepared a list of suspects who are believed to be involved in illegal ticket booking business running into lakhs of rupees. Ansari has been booked under Section 143 of Indian Railway Act 1989.