Nagpur, India: A mistake in issuing an e-challan has raised questions about the efficiency of the transport and traffic departments. 

Nitin Chinchmalatpure, a resident of Kharbi, East Nagpur, was surprised to receive an e-challan for a traffic violation involving a vehicle he doesn't own. The ₹2,000 fine was issued on February 11 by Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Abhudulshkur Momin for speeding on the Samruddhi Expressway, Jalna Road.

According to reports, the violation was linked to a Hyundai car with registration number MH31-DC 8098. However, the e-challan was mistakenly sent to a different vehicle owner in Nagpur. While the registration number was linked to the violation, the recipient owned a blue Maruti Alto, not the Hyundai shown in the Challan images.

The vehicle owner was shocked to receive the notice and questioned how his car, which had never been to Jalna, could be fined for a violation there. He then approached the traffic department at Mitha Neem Dargah, Civil Lines, seeking a resolution.

Instead of addressing the issue, traffic officials blamed the Regional Transport Office (RTO), claiming the mistake was not theirs. They instructed the complainant to file an appeal to cancel the challan, which only added to his frustration and inconvenience.

Chinchmalatpure pointed out that despite the mandatory use of high-security registration plates (HSRP), such errors persist, leading to wrongful penalties for innocent vehicle owners. He emphasized the need for greater accuracy in issuing e-challans and stricter accountability among authorities. “Such wrongful negligence not only causes financial and mental distress to the public but also undermines trust in the system,” he said.

Vilas Thosar of Akhil Bharatiya Grahak Panchayat (ABGP) has called for an investigation and the implementation of corrective measures to prevent such errors in the future.