Travel agents held for ticket fraud

Kolkata: A Howrah-based travel agency has swindled almost Rs 1 lakh from the National Survey Organisation by charging premium fares for low-fare tickets by forging the price printed on the e-tickets.
"Sushobhan Mukhopadhyay and Binoy Pratihar of Swagatam Travels had close connections with our office for the last eight years. So, most officers purchase tickets for their official tours from them," said A K Verma, director of the organisation.
The discrepancy came to light this February when an officer had to cancel his ticket. "The airline refused to refund his fare saying it was a low-fare ticket," said Verma.
Investigations revealed that they were cheated to the tune of nearly Rs 1 lakh for almost 50 return tickets. A complaint was lodged with the Baranagar PS on March 9. Mukhopadhyay and Pratihar were arrested on March 12.
"They had duped several others of more than Rs 2 lakh," said a police officer.
23/06/09 Times of India

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Categories: Indian Aviation- In General Jun 2009