Punjab Probes 11 Officials Over 4,000 Allegedly Fraudulent Vehicle Transfers

LAHORE: The Punjab Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Department has initiated disciplinary proceedings against 11 currently serving employees following allegations that over 4,000 vehicles were fraudulently transferred into other people's names using manipulated biometric verification and falsified paperwork, The News reported.

The decision comes after an audit flagged possible financial misconduct, breaches of established procedures and the alleged submission of counterfeit powers of attorney during vehicle ownership transfers.

According to an official directive issued by Secretary Excise, Taxation and Narcotics Control Masood Mukhtar, Director (BS-19) Muhammad Asif has been designated to lead the investigation under Sections 5 and 9 of the Punjab Employees Efficiency, Discipline and Accountability (PEEDA) Act, 2006.

The appointed inquiry officer has been instructed to conclude the investigation and present a comprehensive findings report, including recommended action, within 60 days.

The suspected violations were identified in an Audit Inspection Report examining two separate periods: January 1 to March 7, 2024, and March 8 to August 20, 2024.

According to the audit findings, various Motor Registering Authorities (MRAs) and Excise and Taxation Inspectors (ETIs) allegedly approved hundreds of ownership transfers without submitting the cases to the relevant Divisional Committee, contrary to standard operating procedures introduced on March 7, 2024.

Those guidelines required applications involving Alternate Dispute Resolution (ADR) and specified ownership transfers to undergo examination and clearance by the Divisional Committee before final approval.

The auditors further reported instances in which vehicle ownership changes were allegedly facilitated through fabricated powers of attorney presented as documents issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Meanwhile, Excise and Taxation Inspector Ghulam Mohyuddin, posted in Region-C, Lahore, has been nominated as the department's representative to support the investigation and supply the necessary official documentation and records.