The Mumbra resident sold the certificates stating various handicaps to people without disabilities, so they could save money while travelling on local or long distance trains. By Vedika Akhilesh The handicap certificate that Shakeer Kamarali Burhanpurwala (right) had when ticket collector Sanjay Sharma caught him Don't be surprised if you see seats for the handicapped in trains, occupied by people with no disability. Railway authorities say many people are buying fake certificates which show they are handicapped, to save money. The handicapped are allowed certain concessions while travelling on local as also on long distance trains. After a ticket collector tipped them off, on Wednesday the Vasai Government Railway Police arrested a Mumbra resident who sold fake certificates. Only a doctors' panel in government hospitals gives the certificate stating a person's disability. It has one doctor's signature and is issued after about a month of applying, for free. On August 13, 56-year-old Shakeer Kamarali Burhanpurwala was caught by head ticket collector Sanjay Sharma while he was travelling from Surat to Kalyan, without a ticket. "When I saw his certificate, I grew suspicious because he didn't appear to be disabled. As the certificate said 'left leg arthritis' and 'cannot walk properly', I made him walk. I was surprised to see him walk properly without any pain," said Sharma. He said Shakeer even walked fast and then claimed to have pain sometimes. Sharma took copies of Shakeer's documents and charged him only for travelling without a ticket. Shakeer also had an escort. Sharma later found the certificate was fake and informed the Vasai GRP. The GRP raided Shakeer's home at Mumbra and recovered a stamp and some fake certificates, the number of which is not yet known. A format of the certificate was also found on his computer. Senior Inspector Namankit T More said, "We recovered a government stamp. We also recovered a few other things as evidence." Police say Shakeer has been selling the certificates from 2002. He had stamps of the J J Group of Hospitals with the name and registration number - 13836 - of a doctor called S M Vora. However, it was found that there is no such doctor in J J Hospital. Interestingly, the idea came to Shakeer when he was admitted to JJ Hospital in 2002 and he says there was a doctor by this name there then. According to police, Shakeer confessed he has issued the fake certificates to more than 100 people, and he used to charge them from Rs 500 to Rs 1,000. He has been arrested under section 420, 468 and 471 of IPC. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------- Rules state 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. Orthopaedically handicapped: First, second and sleeper class - 75 per cent concession Season ticket - 50 per cent for first and second class. Visually challenged: First, second and sleeper class - 75 per cent, Season ticket - 50 per cent Speech and hearing impaired: 50 per cent for ticket in all classes and season ticket Source: http://www.mumbaimirror.com/index.aspx?Page=article§name=News%20-%20 City§id=2&contentid=200908212009082104181932896757448
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