03 September,2026 09:23 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
The accused have been identified as Joeb Altaf Deshmukh, 32, Amin Ramzan Pathan, 31, Riyaz Abdulghani Shaikh, 45, Nazir Ibrahim Patel, 57, and Anand Kumar Nanakprasad Rai, 60. PIC/BY SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT
The Dahisar Police in Mumbai have arrested five people for allegedly tampering with fare meters of taxis and autorickshaws and installing LED circuit devices in them, in an alleged attempt to manipulate fares and cheat passengers.
Police registered a case after receiving information that fare meters of taxis and autorickshaws operating within the Dahisar Police Station limits had been illegally modified. According to the police, an LED running-kit device was installed in the meters as part of the alleged tampering.
The case was registered at Dahisar Police Station under Section 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Section 145(A) of the Maharashtra Motor Vehicles Rules (MMVR).
According to the police, Assistant Police Inspector Nilesh Salunkhe received information from a source about the alleged meter tampering. Police subsequently registered a case against two accused and took them into confidence during the investigation.
With their assistance, the police traced and apprehended three more people allegedly involved in the operation. The police then seized a total of five vehicles in which the fare meters had allegedly been tampered with.
The police seized five vehicles in which the fare meters had allegedly been tampered with. The vehicles included two Maruti Suzuki black-and-yellow taxis, two Bajaj black-and-yellow autorickshaws and a Maruti Ertiga Cool Cab.
Police also seized LED circuit devices allegedly used to tamper with the fare meters.
The accused have been identified as Joeb Altaf Deshmukh, 32, Amin Ramzan Pathan, 31, Riyaz Abdulghani Shaikh, 45, Nazir Ibrahim Patel, 57, and Anand Kumar Nanakprasad Rai, 60.
According to the police, the alleged offence took place between 9.01 pm on Tuesday and around 7.21 am on Wednesday at Gokul Anand Hotel in Ashokvan, Dahisar East.
The alleged meter tampering has raised concerns over passengers being charged fares through manipulated meters.
Fare meters are intended to calculate the amount payable by passengers based on the applicable tariff and journey.
The action was carried out by the Dahisar Police anti-goonda squad under the direction of Assistant Police Inspector Nilesh Salunkhe, along with police personnel Hemant Baburao Vichare, Sunil Rathod, Santosh Bhagawat and Hrishikesh More.
Further investigation is underway.
