Fake ticket collector held for duping passengers

A private security guard, who used to pose as a railway ticket collector and extort money from unsuspecting passengers at Bandra Terminus, has been nabbed by Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel on Sunday.

“Subhash Patil, 32, was booked for forgery and cheating. He was fined Rs1,100 in cash which Patil had forcibly taken from the passenger. The RPF personnel also found forged laminated identity cards of a ticket collector, CBI officer and  sales executive of Airport Authority of India, forged driving licence and three simcards,” said inspector Dinesh Kanojia, Bandra Terminus RPF office.

He added that Patil was handed over to the crime branch of Mumbai railway police for further investigation. The incident took place when Patil asked Ramakant Sharma, 26, for his ticket. After Sharma showed his ticket, Patil asked him to show his luggage, which had some instruments.

Patil then asked Sharma show the bills for the goods. When Sharma was unable to produce the bill, Patil forcibly took Rs1,100. Even after collecting the money, Patil demanded more which lead to an argument.

RPF constable Pramod Kumar Shukla thought something was amiss. When he checked Patil’s identity card, he found that it was bogus. Shukla then nabbed Patil. Anil Mane, inspector in-charge of crime branch, Mumbai railway police said, “Patil has been remanded in police custody till July 29.” He added that a manhunt has been launched to nab Patil’s associate Salim.