To prevent registration of expensive cars in other states to avoid paying taxes in Maharashtra, the state will now check GST verification and documents related to the origin of bank loans and residence, said minister Pratap Sarnaik

Mumbai: State transport minister Pratap Sarnaik on Tuesday admitted that “there is a racket in the Regional Transport Office which needs to stop” and ordered a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the allegations of irregularities by a three-member team led by IPS officer Priyanka Narnavare, which will submit its report in a month.Speaking in the state assembly, Sarnaik also said that in order to prevent the registration of expensive cars in other states to avoid paying taxes in Maharashtra, the state will check GST verification and documents related to the origin of bank loans and residence. “It’s true that expensive cars like Mercedes, Audi and BMW are being purchased in Daman and Puducherry to avoid paying taxes in Maharashtra. The RTO is taking action against such cases,” said Sarnaik.The issue was raised in the assembly by Congress leader Vijay Wadettiwar, who also claimed that there was a major racket operating in the RTO in Vidarbha led by a retired official Bajrang Kharmate. Sarnaik said a probe had begun against him through the Economic Offences Wing.“There is a racket operating with officials who have been posted in the same RTO department in Vidarbha. As many as 1,500 stolen cars have been registered through that RTO. These officers carry out illegal recovery and also target honest officials by using the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB). In fact, there is collusion between the RTO and the ACB,” alleged Wadettiwar. He added that he would submit audio clips as evidence to the government.