JOIN USSix persons, including two Delhi Transport Corporation employees, have been arrested for running an organised racket in recruitment of drivers and conductors in cluster buses — the orange ones — through fake documents.
Police have recovered fake driver and conductor licences and first aid certificates. Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) monitors the operation of these private buses on behalf of the Delhi government under the cluster system.
DTC conductors Devi Charan, 55, and Amarjeet, 29, were held along with Pradeep Kumar Duhoon, 30, Devender Singh, 39, Sanjay Dahiya, 20, and Chander, 51.
According to Ravindra Yadav, additional commissioner of police (crime and railways), Devender earlier worked as a driver in a cluster bus and came in touch with Pradeep, a former DTC bus driver, in 2012. They registered a company MBAS Services and contacted A B Grain Spirits, which has contract to supply buses for cluster service.
“As sub-contractors to A B Grain Spirts, Devender and Pradeep supplied qualified drivers for seven per cent commission on the drivers’ salary. But with the passage of time, they became greedy and began flouting norms,” Yadav said.
Till date, the duo has supplied more than 200 drivers for cluster buses and most of them do not have valid drivers’ badge, and some were recruited on the basis of fake driving licences.
“They used to charge Rs 15,000 and Rs 40,000 per candidate for recruitment of driver,” Yadav added.
Devender and Pradeep told police that they have also supplied 85 conductors in cluster bus service through Prehari Protection Systems, which is authorised by Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System for recruitment of conductors.
Of these 85 conductors, 40 have been recruited on the basis of fake conductor’s licence. Sanjay, assistant manager of Prehari Protection Systems, actively connived in the conspiracy of recruitment of these conductors.
MBAS Services used to charge Rs 50,000-Rs 75,000 per candidate for recruitment of conductor, out of which Rs 36,500 per candidate was paid to Sanjay. He has been arrested and the role of other officers in the company is being examined.
The accused said they prepared fake driving licences, conductors’ badges and first aid certificates through Chander, Devi Charan, Amarjeet, Chanda and Sonu. Chander, Devi Charan and Amarjeet have been arrested, while Chanda and Sonu are absconding.