BENGALURU: A massive fitness certificate (FC) scam involving more than 10,210 vehicles has blown the lid off what appears to be entrenched corruption within Karnataka’s Transport Department, raising alarming concerns about public safety and regulatory collapse.
An FIR has been registered at the HSR Layout police station against retired Senior Motor Vehicle Inspector Nisar Ahmed, who was posted at the Koramangala RTO, for allegedly issuing thousands of fitness certificates without conducting mandatory physical inspections. The case was filed after a departmental inquiry ordered by the Transport Commissioner following a complaint by advocate S. Nataraj Sharma.
According to preliminary findings, between August 1, 2025 and January 31, 2026, the officer allegedly issued Form 38A fitness certificates through the Vahan portal without verifying the vehicles in person. A scrutiny of portal data by the Joint Transport Commissioner on February 19 reportedly revealed glaring mismatches between inspection requirements and approvals granted.
The scam first came to light after authorities in Gujarat flagged irregularities involving 41 Gujarat-registered vehicles that had allegedly been granted FCs in Bengaluru despite never entering Karnataka. Following media reports backed by digital evidence, including toll plaza data showing the buses operating in Gujarat on the very days they were certified in Bengaluru, the Transport Commissioner suspended Nisar Ahmed on January 20. He retired on January 31, but the investigation has since widened dramatically.
Officials now say the scale of the fraud extends far beyond Gujarat. Over 10,210 vehicles — including those registered in Gujarat, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Kerala — may have been cleared without inspection. Sources indicate that more than 50 private and school buses from Gujarat alone were issued certificates even though they never presented the vehicles for mandatory checks at the Koramangala RTO.
Under existing norms, every commercial vehicle must undergo a thorough physical inspection before being granted an FC. Officials are required to verify roadworthiness, braking systems, emergency exits, safety equipment and emission standards. However, investigators allege that these procedures were bypassed in exchange for illegal gratification.
Police have booked the retired officer and several vehicle owners under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita relating to criminal breach of trust and cheating. Investigators are probing whether agents or middlemen facilitated the illegal clearances and whether more officials were complicit.
The scandal has exposed serious vulnerabilities in the digital monitoring system. While the Vahan portal was designed to ensure transparency and prevent manipulation, officials admit that misuse of login credentials, weak supervisory oversight and lack of real-time audits may have enabled the fraud to continue unchecked for months.
Transport department insiders say this is not an isolated case but indicative of deeper systemic rot. “When thousands of vehicles are cleared without inspection, it is not a clerical error — it is organised corruption,” a senior official said.
Road safety experts warn that unfit commercial vehicles pose grave risks to passengers and other road users. School buses and long-distance private buses operating without proper checks could lead to catastrophic consequences.
The Transport Commissioner has ordered a comprehensive audit of FC issuances across all RTOs in the state. Digital logs, approval timelines and officer credentials are being examined to identify further irregularities. Authorities have also not ruled out recommending vigilance or anti-corruption bureau probes.
With evidence now linking out-of-state vehicles — particularly from Gujarat and Maharashtra — to fraudulent certifications in Bengaluru, the scandal has taken on inter-state dimensions. The case has reignited debate over corruption in regulatory departments and the urgent need for tamper-proof, accountable systems to safeguard public safety.
