In a startling revelation, a tea vendor who served beverages to senior railway officials was found to be operating a fake VIP quota ticket confirmation racket using forged seals and signatures of top railway officers. The Central Railway Vigilance Department estimates that the vendor, Ravindra Sahu, was earning Rs 1.5 to 2 lakh per month through this illegal activity.
According to officials, Sahu had been running the racket for the past two years and had built a lavish bungalow worth crores in his native village in Darbhanga district, Bihar, from the proceeds of this fraud. He has been booked under the Railway Act, and further investigation is being carried out by the Railway Protection Force (RPF).
Sources revealed that Sahu, originally from Bihar, had come to Mumbai a few years ago and began working at the railway officers’ canteen. Over time, he developed close relationships with senior officials and gained unrestricted access to their cabins.
He allegedly misused this trust by forging the seals and signatures of high-ranking officials including the Senior Divisional Finance Manager, Chief Medical Officer, and Chief Engineer. Using these fake authorisations, he confirmed tickets under the VIP quota, deceiving passengers and the railway system alike.
The racket came to light during a routine inspection of the Kolkata Mail by the vigilance team led by Chief Vigilance Inspector Jitendra Sharma and R.S. Gupta. During passenger verification, several travelers admitted to paying extra for confirmed tickets, prompting a deeper probe that eventually led to Sahu’s arrest.
Investigators believe the racket had been operational for at least three months, but railway authorities suspect it had been running for nearly two years. During this period, Sahu is said to have earned lakhs of rupees, with reports suggesting that he constructed a bungalow worth crores in his hometown.
The RPF has registered a case under the Railway Act and is continuing its investigation. Railway officials have confirmed that a case under the Indian Penal Code will soon be filed against Sahu at the CSMT Railway Police Station.
Authorities are now looking into whether Sahu acted alone or had internal assistance. The case has raised serious concerns over access protocols and the misuse of trust within the railway system.