Sanjay Sharma's passion for medical literature has helped him crack down on commuters feigning disability on trains
He'll be watching you: Sanjay Sharma pic/Sayed Sameer Abedi
Sanjay Sharma's passion for medical literature has helped him crack down on commuters feigning disability on trains
Knowledge gained never goes waste and one Western Railway ticket collector swears by this adage. Sanjay Sharma (38) not only checks tickets, he also keeps a close check on commuters. Sharma was recently rewarded by WR for catching commuters who pretended to be handicapped and produced fake certificates to avail of the benefits provided by WR for the disabled.
As per the rulebook, a handicapped person can avail of a 75 per cent concession on the ticket and has to be accompanied by an escort, who can travel free of cost.
On March 12, when Sharma was conducting a routine check on the Paschim Express AC III tier coach, he noticed one Haresh Dingreja (32) sitting without any escort. He smelt a rat and after close scrutiny realised that he was faking the disability. "I have some knowledge of medical terms, because of my habit of reading medical books and this often comes handy," said Sharma.
According to the administration department report, after questioning the passenger about the disease, he confessed to doctoring a certificate that belonged to his uncle, and had been using it since 2003.
Interestingly, when Sharma asked Dingreja for the original certificate, he produced a coloured photocopy. The TC got suspicious when he spotted a spelling error on the certificate, after which he handed Dingreja over to the Borivli Railway Police.u00a0 Later, it was found that the name of the doctor and the registration number on the certificate were also fake.
Sharma's vigilance has won him accolades from his bosses in the railways. This has also put railway authorities on high alert and they have warned TCs against commuters feigning disability.
"Such cases are rare, but we have asked TCs to take a closer look at disability certificates. We have also written to the Medical Council to take strict action against doctors who issue such certificates," said
S S Gupta, chief PRO, WR.
Not the first time for Sharma
Sharma had cracked a similar case in 2008. Omprakash Bishnoi (24), a resident of Surat, was travelling with his friend as an escort. When Sharma reached their AC III tier seat and asked for the handicapped certificate, Bishnoi started arguing. The disease mentioned on the certificate was mentioned as cervical deformity, but the patient was wearing a neck belt.
"On checking all the documents and rigorous questioning, Bishnoi confessed that he had purchased a fake certificate," said Sharma.
The Vasai Railway police then arrested Bishnoi. He was sentenced to six months in jail.
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