RPF busts international gang involved in e-ticket racket, 100 arrested

Bengaluru – An international gang involved in E-ticket fraud, using a Pakistani software, has been busted by the Railway Protection Force (RPF). Investigation revealed that this gang is a part of the international black market comprising of 25,000 hackers and brokers. South Western Railway has issued a statement in this respect and more than 100 people, including the mastermind, have been arrested. Last year, the intelligence agencies had alerted that illegal software was being used for Tatkal bookings.

Last year, in September, the intelligence agencies had warned that an illegal software capable of bypassing the IRCTC and banking security systems was being used for booking tickets under the Tatkal scheme. For booking through this software, there was no need for the IRCTC Tatkal booking system and Bank OTP. One could book a Tatkal ticket directly through this software. Due to this software, the Tatkal quota was being exhausted soon after opening the bookings. This made it difficult for genuine travellers to get tickets. These tickets were sold at five times the price in the black market.

Following the alert issued by the intelligence agency, RPF started raiding various locations, and finally, the RPF officials succeeded in arresting one person. Information regarding the mastermind surfaced during his interrogation. The RPF unit arrested the mastermind from Kendrapara in Odisha. He was brought to Bengaluru for interrogation. Vital information was revealed during his interrogation.

The arrested person had a Pakistani software having a link-based advanced hacking system for hacking the systems in ISRO, Railway and other government institutions. The South Western Railway informed that the person also possessed information of 3,000 bank accounts, Bitcoins and Cryptocurrency links. The mastermind claimed that there is an active black market comprising of 25,000 hackers and brokers around the world, including India. Railways informed that the black money generated through these transactions is used for anti-national and criminal activities.