A senior Motor Vehicle Inspector (MVI) at the Bengaluru (Central) Regional Transport Office (RTO) has been suspended by the Karnataka Transport Department following the exposure of a serious violation of transport laws.
The officer, identified as Nissar Ahmed, allegedly issued Fitness Certificates (FCs) under Form 38(A) to 41 heavy commercial vehicles registered in Gujarat, without conducting the mandatory physical inspection of those vehicles.
This act is a direct violation of the Motor Vehicles Act and Central Motor Vehicle Rules, and it raises alarming questions about road safety, regulatory integrity, and systemic loopholes in vehicle fitness certification.
What Exactly Is a Fitness Certificate (FC) and Why It Matters
A Fitness Certificate is a legal document certifying that a commercial vehicle is:
- Roadworthy
- Emission compliant
- Structurally safe
- Fit for public operation
For transport vehicles, FC renewal is mandatory every year after a certain age.
🚨 Without a valid FC:
- Vehicle operation is illegal
- Insurance becomes void
- Accidents can lead to criminal liability
The Allegation: How the Scam Was Detected
The irregularity came to light after the Gujarat Transport Department flagged suspicious records using its e-detection and toll-plaza tracking systems.
The Critical Red Flag 🚩
- Vehicles were recorded at toll plazas in Gujarat
- On the same dates their fitness certificates were shown as issued
- From Bengaluru, Karnataka
📌 Conclusion:
These vehicles could not physically be present in Bengaluru for inspection.
This made it clear that:
- No physical inspection took place
- FCs were issued fraudulently
- The inspection process was bypassed entirely
Why This Is a Major Violation Under Indian Law
Under the Motor Vehicles Act and CMVR rules:
✔️ Physical inspection is mandatory
✔️ Vehicles must be present at the inspecting RTO
✔️ Inspector is personally accountable
Issuing FCs without inspection is not a “procedural lapse” - it is official misconduct.
Possible consequences include:
- Departmental suspension (already done)
- Criminal prosecution
- Blacklisting of vehicles
- Cancellation of fraudulently issued FCs
The Bigger Risk: Why This Endangers Public Safety
Heavy vehicles include:
- Trucks
- Tankers
- Buses
- Construction carriers
If such vehicles:
- Have faulty brakes
- Worn-out tyres
- Weak chassis
- Emission violations
They become moving hazards on highways.
📉 One fake FC can endanger:
- Hundreds of commuters
- Highway users
- Pedestrians
- Environment
This is not paperwork corruption - this is life-risk corruption.
Inter-State FC Manipulation: A Growing Concern
This case also exposes a larger pattern:
- Vehicles registered in one state
- Seeking easier or “managed” FCs in another
- Exploiting lack of real-time cross-state verification
While digitisation has improved detection, human misuse of authority remains a critical vulnerability.
Where Vehicle Scrapping Comes In (Carbasket Perspective)
Many of these vehicles are likely:
- Over-aged
- Structurally unsafe
- Near end-of-life
- Unable to pass genuine fitness tests
Instead of scrapping such vehicles legally, fake FCs are sometimes used to keep them running.
This is exactly what organized vehicle scrapping is meant to stop.
Carbasket Vehicle Scrapping: The Legal & Safer Alternative
At Carbasket Vehicle Scrapping, we actively support:
- Removal of unfit vehicles from roads
- Legal RC cancellation support
- Environment-friendly recycling
- Full compliance with government norms
If a vehicle:
❌ Cannot pass genuine fitness inspection
❌ Is structurally unsafe
❌ Has crossed its economic life
👉 Scrapping is the correct legal path - not fake FCs
FAQs - Fitness Certificate & Legal Implications
Q1. Can an FC be issued without physical inspection?
No. Physical inspection is mandatory under law.
Q2. Is inter-state FC issuance allowed?
Only if the vehicle is physically present at the inspecting RTO.
Q3. What happens if a vehicle has a fake FC?
- FC can be cancelled
- Vehicle can be seized
- Owner and issuing officer may face legal action
Q4. How are fake FCs detected?
Through toll data, FASTag records, GPS logs, and inter-state databases.
Q5. Should old commercial vehicles be scrapped instead?
Yes, if they fail fitness or are unsafe. Scrapping avoids legal and safety risks.
Why This Case Matters for India’s Transport System
This incident shows:
- Digital systems are catching fraud
- Accountability is increasing
- Enforcement is getting stricter
- End-of-life vehicles must exit the system
📌 The future of transport safety lies in:
- Genuine inspections
- Zero tolerance for shortcuts
- Organized vehicle scrapping
📍 Bengaluru | Karnataka | Gujarat | India | Inter-State Transport
