Bhubaneswar: The State Transport Authority (STA) of Odisha has lodged two complaints with the Cyber Police in Kataka over suspected fraud involving fake e-challan messages and alleged tampering with application data on the ‘Sarathi’ portal.
Sources said the move follows directions from Commerce and Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena to take stringent legal measures against cyber fraudsters misusing transport-related services and digital data to cheat people.
In one case, the STA detected fake e-challan messages being sent to vehicle owners through WhatsApp and SMS. The messages reportedly contained vehicle registration numbers and other vehicle-related details and misused the names of the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways (MoRTH), mParivahan and e-Challan.
The fraudulent messages directed recipients to suspicious links to pay alleged traffic fines. A vehicle owner is reported to have fallen victim to the scam after making a payment through a fake website. Similar suspicious messages mentioning vehicle numbers and purported fine amounts have also been reported in other cases.
The Transport Department has cautioned vehicle owners against clicking on unknown or suspicious links received through SMS or WhatsApp. Citizens have been advised to verify e-challan details and make payments only through the authorised government portal, echallan.parivahan.gov.in.
In another case, the STA detected suspected alteration of data in an electronically submitted application for a learner’s licence through the ‘Sarathi’ portal.
The applicant had applied for the learner’s licence using Aadhaar-based e-KYC and successfully completed the prescribed online learner’s licence test. However, during a subsequent verification, changes were reportedly detected in the Aadhaar-verified application data.
After verification, it was found that the applicant’s name, father’s name and address had been altered, and the modified information was subsequently reflected in the learner’s licence. The STA is conducting a technical examination to determine how the changes were made.
A complaint has also been filed with the Kataka Cyber Police in connection with the ‘Sarathi’ portal incident. Investigators are examining available application data, digital records and other electronic evidence to determine the circumstances behind the suspected manipulation.
The authorities have urged citizens to remain vigilant against cyber fraud involving e-challans and other transport services. People have been advised not to trust unsolicited messages or links and to verify information only through authorised government portals.
