The Crime Branch of Kashmir Police has registered cases against ticketing agents and airlines operating in J&K under Section 420, 468, 471, 409 r/w and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code. The action was taken after the Crime Branch received complaints from various travel associations and trade bodies through the Tourism Director regarding alleged sale of air tickets by various travel agents on exorbitant rates, acting in league with air lines staff.
The Crime Branch conducted an enquiry based on these complaints, which revealed that the officials of various airlines sold group tickets in bulk in the name of passengers who are not members of any group and neither have sought tickets as group members.
The tickets obtained in advance by the travel agents as group tickets were then sold in black at exorbitant prices as individual tickets in violation of the terms and conditions of airlines for group booking, a police statement said.