Mumbai: Mercedes owner forges 'VVIP pass' to skip Rs.60 toll
Indians are known for their love for "free" stuff. We might be using a costly iPhone, but will always look for 'schemes' to make free calls. A Mercedes owner in Mumbai had similar plans. He got a fake letter made, authorizing himself to skip the Rs. 60 toll tax. Unfortunately for him, he was caught. A cheating and forgery case has been filed.
The letter supposedly carried MEP's logo and MD's signature
The Mercedes in question stopped at the Bandra-Worli Sea Link at 8.20pm on Thursday. The toll attendant said it had a letter in the name of MEP, the firm responsible for collecting toll, exempting it from toll charges at "MEP/IRB toll, MPEW, MSRDC, NH4 and Pune Nashik toll plazas." It had the company's logo and the MD and vice-chairman's signature.
A long line of cars helped the suspect escape
However, the attendants were suspicious as "our company does not issue such letters." The driver, who identified himself as Bhavik Bhanushali, said it had been issued in his brother's name. The staff shared the letter with their senior, but since other vehicles were waiting in line, the enquiry couldn't be completed and they let the SUV pass without paying the toll.
FIR filed, hunt is on for the accused
Officials soon realized the letter was fake. A simple search showed them the car belonged to one Lehrikant Sunderji Bhadra. The episode has been recorded by CCTV cameras and a hunt is on. "It's ridiculous that someone who drives a car which probably costs at least Rs 50 lakh felt the need to cheat on paying Rs 60 toll," an attendant summed it up.
