In a startling revelation, a group of individuals in Gujarat, India, managed to
deceive government officials for over 18 months by operating a fake toll plaza,
reportedly extracting millions in taxes from unsuspecting commuters. The illicit
toll plaza was set up on private land in the Morbi district, diverting traffic
from the designated national highway. Situated on property owned by the White
House Ceramic Company in Varghasia village, a closed factory, the scammers
charged commuters 50% of the regular toll fee, collecting amounts ranging from
Rs 20 to Rs 200, as opposed to the legitimate toll tax of Rs 110 to Rs 595.
Reports suggest that the fraudsters amassed over $8.9
million (Rs 75 crore) in illegal taxes during the scheme. Authorities were
alerted to the scam, prompting an investigation and a detailed complaint by
local district Collector GT Pandya. Shockingly, it was revealed that both the
National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) and the toll plaza manager had
previously notified the local police about the ongoing scam. However,
commuters, benefiting from reduced fees, reportedly refrained from filing
complaints.
Police have now registered a complaint against the owner of
White House Ceramic Company, Amarshi Patel, and his associates Vanraj Singh
Jhala, Harvijay Singh Jhala, Dharmendra Singh Jhala, Yuvraj Singh Jhala, and
unidentified individuals. This incident adds to a recent trend in Gujarat,
where instances of fraudulent activities, including the operation of fake
government offices, have garnered attention and led to arrests.
