Acting on a tip-off, the Bhubaneswar Regional Transport Officer (RTO) seized two vehicles having the same registration number of OD-02J-7111 near the Swosti Hotel at Master Canteen Square here on Tuesday. Following investigation by RTO officials, it was learnt that while a Tata Indigo has the valid registration number a Tata Indica was running using the same number illegally.
“After getting the information from a reliable source, we raided a private transport agency called Yatra Tour and Travels near Hotel Swosti and found the two vehicles bearing the same number,” said Bhubaneswar RTO lal Mohan Sethy.
Investigation is on to ascertain the motive of using the same number, said Sethy, adding that the guilty would be fined of `5,000 as per the MV Act 1992. “So far, our database shows that the Indica, though a new vehicle, was not registered. Hence, as per law the culprit will be fined of `5,000.
If the vehicle owner will intentionally run the vehicle using the fake number then the fine amount will be increased as per law,” informed Sethy. Notably, a few days ago, three persons were killed and many injured after a sand-laden Tata Hiwa truck running with a fake number dashed against vehicles.