Morbi: The Police have launched an inquiry after reports of a private road and toll gate bypassing the Vaghasiya Toll Plaza on the Bamanbor-Kutch National Highway, came to light on Monday. A case has been filed against five individuals, including the proprietor of a non-operational ceramic unit, who have been identified, among others.

According to the police, the accused named in the FIR would compel vehicles to utilize makeshift toll plazas set up by them instead of the officially sanctioned operator on a national highway, charging a lower fee than the authorized government toll naka.

Amreesh Patel, one of the accused, established two gates on the boundary wall of his shuttered ceramic unit along one side of the national highway. He coerced vehicles into making payments to bypass the government toll plaza, the Wankaner Police said.

The other four are accused of directing vehicles through two railway crossings in Nava Vaghasiya village on the opposite side of the national highway to avoid payment at the official government toll plaza, the official explained.

In another instance, residents of the village set up a spurious toll plaza using two railway crossings, charging tolls from motorists and other vehicles, the official added.

At least five individuals have been booked under sections 384 (extortion), 406 (criminal breach of trust), and 506 (2) (criminal intimidation) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC). Efforts are ongoing to apprehend both the identified and unidentified perpetrators, stated the official.

This illicit activity had been ongoing for around 18 months, with the accused resorting to threats against officials at the authorized toll plaza when objections were raised, the police said. DeshGujarat