Train journeys worth Rs 2 crore were undertaken illegally by misusing a special booking facility extended to the Army in Lucknow Cantonment, a railway investigation has found.
Indian Railways has referred the ticket scam to the CBI and the Army is carrying out its own internal probe. Using a modus operandi unique to the system through which Army personnel book tickets in a special arrangement with Railways, defence officials managing the ticket counter in Lucknow cantonment allegedly tricked the software into issuing train journeys meant for Army personnel.
The case documents referred to the CBI place the blame on corruption by defence personnel manning the passenger reservation counter in Lucknow. Following meetings with Army personnel, it has also been decided that all such special counters operating in the country would be phased out in about six months and the entire ticketing requirement of the Army would be done online, putting an end to physical tickets for these concessional journeys.
Railway probe has found that those manning the counter…