The Bombay High Court today admitted a PIL seeking a CBI inquiry into a multi-crore fraud allegedly committed at Lokmanya Tilak Terminus in Kurla by Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel who arrested commuters crossing railway tracks and asked them to pay Rs 500 bail bonds each in fake courts staged by them.

The PIL alleged that the money collected by way of bail bonds was not deposited in the courts and misappropriated by RPF personnel after one of their head constables acted as a “magistrate” and granted bail to so-called offenders.

Hearing the PIL, the bench, headed by Mr Justice B.H. Marlapalle, asked the Ministry of Railways and Union Ministry of Home to file a reply within six weeks. The matter has been kept for hearing after eight weeks.

The court also took on record an affidavit filed by Government Railway Police which said that investigations were under way. Public Prosecutor Pandurang Pol, submitting the affidavit, said a special team had been formed to conduct the probe.

In the affidavit, Mr Tukaram Chavan, Commissioner of Police, Railways, said investigations had revealed that the alleged offence was committed by RPF personnel at Kurla during 2008-09 by using fake bail bonds and false documents and misappropriating the money collected from commuters after charging them.

The PIL, filed by Mr Samir Zaveri, Director of Mumbai Suburban Railway Passengers Association, alleged that fake receipts were given to passengers who were caught crossing railway tracks and the money paid by them in bonds was pocketed by RCF personnel.

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