In a jaw-dropping revelation, the Special Task Force (STF) of Uttar Pradesh has uncovered a massive toll fraud scheme that spanned across India. At the heart of this audacious operation was a fraudulent software installed at 200 toll plazas nationwide, including six in Madhya Pradesh. The scheme was meticulously designed to siphon off crores of rupees by bypassing the official FASTag toll collection system. This unauthorized software generated receipts indistinguishable from those of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI), allowing the fraudsters to operate undetected for years. Authorities have now launched extensive investigations into all the affected toll plazas to unravel the full scope of the scam.
Fraud Unfolds in Madhya Pradesh
The STF’s findings have led to investigations at six toll plazas in Madhya Pradesh. Among these, three are operated by Vanshika Construction, a firm linked to the daughter of former Congress MLA Sanjay Sharma. Other targeted toll plazas include the Garha toll plaza (managed by Bansal Pathway), the Jangwani toll plaza (operated by Coral), and the Mohtara toll plaza (run by A.K. Construction, owned by the Pathak Brothers of Uttar Pradesh).
How the Scam Operated
The scam came to light when the UP STF raided the Shivgulam Toll Plaza in Mirzapur district during the early hours of a Tuesday morning. The raid resulted in the arrest of Rajiv Kumar Mishra, a toll plaza manager from Prayagraj, and Manish Mishra, an employee hailing from Sidhi, Madhya Pradesh. This breakthrough followed an earlier arrest of Alok Kumar Singh from Varanasi, who played a pivotal role in the entire fraud.
The modus operandi was both cunning and sophisticated. Fraudsters installed unauthorized software onto toll plaza systems, enabling them to issue fake toll receipts for vehicles without FASTag. Normally, vehicles without FASTag are required to pay double the toll fee as a penalty, but this fake system allowed toll operators to bypass the official NHAI network while still collecting payments. Vehicle owners unknowingly became part of this scam, paying through the fraudulent system.
The conspiracy involved a nexus of toll contractors, software developers, and complicit toll plaza employees, each playing a specific role in the seamless execution of this operation.
Action in Madhya Pradesh
Authorities in Madhya Pradesh, prompted by information from the UP STF, have started a detailed probe into the implicated toll plazas. Anand Prasad, Project Director of Katni NHAI, confirmed investigations at Shahdol Toll Plaza and others under his supervision. Similarly, Jabalpur Project Manager Amrit Lal Sahu revealed that toll plazas in Jabalpur, Salivada, Chhindwara’s Chikhlikala, and Jangwani have already been inspected. If fraudulent software is detected, strict action will follow.
The Mastermind Behind the Fraud
The STF has identified Alok Kumar Singh as the key figure in this scam. An MCA degree holder with expertise in software development, Alok initially worked at a toll plaza, where he conceived the idea for the fraudulent system. Along with his colleagues Sawant and Sukhantu, he developed software that could mimic NHAI’s official toll collection system.
Alok targeted toll plazas where he had connections, convincing owners to install the software in exchange for a share of the profits. Once the system was in place, he monitored transactions remotely via his laptop, ensuring seamless operations.
Unlike the authorized software, which is directly linked to NHAI’s network, Alok’s program allowed toll plazas to issue counterfeit receipts. This enabled toll operators to pocket the revenue while evading official records. The fraudulent system charged vehicle owners double tolls for not having FASTag, funneling vast amounts of money into the scam.
The Scam’s Nationwide Reach
During interrogation, Alok confessed to installing the fake software at more than 200 toll plazas across India. His network extended to states like Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, Assam, Jammu and Kashmir, Gujarat, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha, and West Bengal. Of these, Alok personally oversaw 42 installations, while his associates handled the others.
Alok’s personal gains from this operation were staggering. At the Mirzapur toll plaza alone, he embezzled Rs. 45,000 daily, accumulating a total of Rs. 3.24 crore over two years. The stolen money was funneled into his and his family’s bank accounts, including those of his father-in-law.
The Road Ahead
As the scale of this fraud becomes clearer, NHAI is working closely with authorities to identify all affected toll plazas and the contractors involved. The UP STF is continuing its investigation to dismantle the entire network of fraudsters. Those found complicit—be they toll plaza owners, contractors, or employees—are expected to face severe legal consequences.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the vulnerabilities in critical infrastructure systems and underscores the urgent need for stricter oversight and technological safeguards. For now, the spotlight remains on uncovering the full extent of this scam and ensuring justice is served.
This elaborate scam, blending technology and insider knowledge, is a wake-up call for authorities to tighten loopholes and reinforce accountability in toll operations nationwide.
