How a ‘Rs 500 cr’ license plate scam operated in Rajasthan

Suparna RoyTNN
Mar 13, 2026 | 19:50 IST

A digitisation loophole enabled officials and agents in Rajasthan RTOs to revive prized vintage numbers, transfer them to new vehicles, and forge records, triggering a statewide fraud probe

Two years ago, Shankar Sisodia (name changed) did what thousands of car owners in Jaipur do without thinking twice: he hired an agent to renew a registration certificate (RC). His car had a coveted number from Rajasthan’s old seven-digit series — three letters and four numerals — from before the state moved to newer formats. Sisodia submitted the papers, paid the fee, and waited for the updated certificate.

The update was a shock. The RC had been renewed and transferred — without his consent — to the name of an official posted at the regional transport office (RTO), Jaipur (I).
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