The case involves a Tata 407 bearing registration number MP04 GB 0670, originally purchased in 2016 by Dhirendra Singh Chauhan, a resident of Siddharth Lake City. Chauhan bought the vehicle for approximately ₹8.5 lakh and later rented it to Kerry Soft Limited, operating from Danish Nagar.
According to Chauhan, rental payments were made regularly in the initial period but began to lapse later. When he asked for the vehicle to be returned, the operator, identified as Vimal Shukla, allegedly avoided doing so. The matter took a serious turn in March 2023, when Chauhan discovered through the transport department’s online portal that the vehicle had been transferred to the name of one Manoj Kumar Pandey.
Chauhan stated that he had never visited the RTO for any transfer process, nor had he signed or submitted any application for sale or transfer of ownership. He subsequently lodged complaints with the Katara Hills police station and the RTO, alleging fraud and misuse of official procedures.
Following multiple representations, an internal inquiry revealed that the transfer had been carried out using fake documents through the online system. The RTO later cancelled the transfer notification under provisions of the Motor Vehicles Act and restored the vehicle registration to Chauhan’s name.
Bhopal RTO officer Jitendra Sharma said the transfer had been recorded based on an online application submitted at the time. “When both parties were heard and inconsistencies emerged, the case was re-examined. Since the alleged buyer failed to provide proof of payment, the transfer was cancelled,” Sharma said.
Officials acknowledged that loopholes in the earlier online OTP-based transfer system may have enabled such irregularities. At the time, OTPs could reportedly be generated using any mobile number. The system has since been modified to ensure OTPs are sent only to the registered mobile number of the vehicle owner.
Despite the correction in records, questions remain over accountability, the role of intermediaries, and why no penal action has been initiated so far. Both parties retain the right to appeal before the Transport Commissioner.
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