Mira-Bhayandar: Probe Ordered Into 30 Allegedly Illegal Auto-Rickshaw Permits Issued by Bhayandar RTO

Serious accusations have emerged against the Bhayandar Regional Transport Office after Bhayandar MLA Narendra Mehta alleged that nearly 30 auto-rickshaw permits were granted to applicants suspected to be Rohingya Bangladeshis. The allegations prompted the Maharashtra transport department to initiate an official investigation into the matter. The probe has raised questions over whether proper background checks and citizenship verification procedures were followed before the permits were approved. Authorities are now examining the entire process to determine if there were any administrative lapses or negligence in verifying the authenticity of the applicants and the documents submitted during the permit application process at the RTO office.

Officials associated with the inquiry said an initial review of all 30 permit cases has already been carried out. According to the department, every applicant had submitted documents required under the Motor Vehicles Act, including residence certificates issued by the tehsildar, e-Aadhaar cards, PAN cards, and police verification reports. Despite this, officials clarified that the authenticity of citizenship cannot be determined solely on the basis of documents provided during the application stage. An RTO official stated that no final conclusion has yet been reached regarding whether the individuals involved are Indian citizens. Authorities have therefore decided to conduct a deeper and independent verification process before taking any action.

Mumbai, Maharashtra: Minister Pratap Sarnaik says, "The issue regarding the Marathi language is a separate matter; however, it is also the responsibility of the RTO to ensure that all documents are scrutinized properly. We have been receiving complaints regarding instances where… pic.twitter.com/LfUNNAwvvj

— IANS (@ians_india) April 27, 2026

Mumbai, Maharashtra: BEST union leader Shashank Rao says, "If any Bangladeshi or Rohingya individual has been issued a permit, immediate action must be taken regarding it. Action must also be taken against the official who issued it. No leniency whatsoever should be shown in this… pic.twitter.com/4XRNsk2JRU

— IANS (@ians_india) April 27, 2026

The transport department has now sought assistance from the tehsil office, district collector’s office and police commissionerate to independently verify all submitted records and credentials. Officials stated that stringent action would be taken if any forged documents, false claims or procedural irregularities are discovered during the investigation. The inquiry has also sparked larger concerns regarding the effectiveness of verification mechanisms at RTO offices, particularly in sensitive regions like Mira-Bhayandar. Experts have stressed the importance of stronger coordination between government databases and stricter field-level inspections to prevent misuse of official systems. Authorities have appealed to the public not to draw conclusions until the investigation is fully completed.