Bengaluru: A senior motor vehicle inspector posted at the Bengaluru Central Regional Transport Office (RTO) has been suspended for issuing fitness certificates (FCs) to 41 vehicles that were never produced for physical inspection in the city.

The officer, identified as Nissar Ahmed, allegedly approved fitness certificates for vehicles operating in Gujarat without conducting the mandatory physical verification required under the Motor Vehicles Rules.

The action was initiated following an alert from the Gujarat transport department. Officials said Ahmed issued FCs to at least 30 vehicles on a single day—September 9, 2025—despite the vehicles being nearly 1,500 km away in Gujarat at the time.

The irregularity came to light after Gujarat authorities informed Karnataka officials that the same vehicles had crossed toll plazas within Gujarat on the day their fitness certificates were issued in Bengaluru. Subsequent verification of toll plaza data confirmed that the vehicles could not have been physically presented at the Bengaluru RTO, which is a compulsory requirement for fitness certification.

In a report dated January 20, 2026, the Joint Transport Commissioner stated that verification through the VAHAN 4.0 system confirmed that the vehicles flagged by Gujarat authorities had their fitness certificates renewed under Form 38(A).

A review of official records revealed that the certificates were issued without conducting mandatory physical inspections, constituting a violation of the Motor Vehicles Act and related rules.

Considering the seriousness of the allegations and the possibility of interference with the investigation, the Transport Commissioner ordered the officer’s suspension pending a departmental inquiry.

The suspension order further stated that Ahmed’s lien has been transferred to the Nelamangala RTO, and he has been reassigned to a vacant post of Senior Motor Vehicle Inspector.

Transport Minister R. Ramalinga Reddy said that while central rules allow any state to issue fitness certificates for vehicles registered elsewhere, physical inspection remains mandatory.

“In this case, certificates were issued without inspecting the vehicles, which is a clear violation of the rules,” the minister said. DeshGujarat