23 May,2025 08:30 PM IST | Mumbai | mid-day online correspondent
One of those apprehended in the case is a 17-year-old.
Acting on specific source information, a preventive check was conducted by the Vigilance Team of Central Railway at the Passenger Reservation System (PRS) office in Malkapur in Maharashtra's Buldhana district on Thursday. The team apprehended two people for allegedly engaging in touting activities.
During the inspection, the team intercepted the two people with an air-conditioned (AC) Tatkal ticket valued at Rs 3,960. The duo, Sanjay Chandak and a minor, had purchased the ticket from PRS Malkapur.
According to authorities, Chandak is the local kingpin, while the 17-year-old is his assistant. Chandak revealed about his association with a notorious Mumbai-based tout known as Thakur, who is believed to be the mastermind behind a broader touting network.
Upon further inquiry, Chandak shared the WhatsApp chat history with the Mumbai-based tout, which allegedly revealed that he had sent photographs of 182 JCR (Journey-Cum-Reservation) tickets booked through PRS Malkapur. These included 23 live tickets worth Rs 1.61 and 159 past tickets worth Rs 8.48 lakh, collectively valuing at Rs 10.09 lakh. Chandak confessed that these tickets were booked for illegal resale and supplied to the Mumbai-based tout.
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The two apprehended touts were handed over to the Inspector of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) at Malkapur for further legal action. A case has been registered under the relevant sections of the Railways Act. The 23 live tickets involved in the racket have been blocked. Further investigation is being carried out by Railway Police Force (RPF) Malkapur.
The Central Railway Vigilance Department said it remains committed to curbing illegal ticketing activities and ensuring transparent and fair access to railway services for genuine passengers.
Central Railway, while sharing Mumbai local train updates, on Friday said that it will operate a mega block between Matunga and Mulund stations on Sunday, May 25.
Central Railway's Mumbai division will operate mega block on its suburban sections carrying out various engineering and maintenance works on 25.5.2025 as under:
Matunga-Mulund UP and Down slow lines from 11.05 am to 3.55 pm
- Down slow line services leaving CSMT Mumbai from 10.14 am to 3.52 pm will be diverted on down fast line between Matunga and Mulund stations halting at Sion, Kurla, Ghatkopar, Vikhroli, Bhandup and Mulund stations and further re-diverted on Down slow line at Mulund station and will arrive destination 15 minutes behind schedule.
- UP slow line services leaving Thane from 11.07 am to 3.51 pm will be diverted on UP fast line at Mulund, between Mulund and Matunga stations halting at Mulund, Bhandup, Vikhroli, Ghatkopar, Kurla and Sion and further re-diverted on UP slow line at Matunga station and will arrive destination 15 minutes behind schedule
- All UP and DOWN locals leaving / arriving CSMT between 11.00 am to 05.00 pm will reach destination 15 minutes later than scheduled time.
- UP and Down Trans-Harbour Line between Thane and Vashi/Nerul stations from 11.10 am to 4.10 pm
- UP and Down Trans-Harbour line services will remain suspended between Vashi /Nerul and Thane stations during the block period.
