Jamshedpur: In a major embarrassment for the railway authorities, two Train Ticket Examiners (TTEs) posted on the prestigious Patna–Tatanagar Vande Bharat Express have been suspended for allegedly allowing ticketless passengers to board the train illegally and collecting cash payments without receipts.
The accused, Nasim and Arjun Sahu, were caught red-handed during a surprise inspection conducted on May 11 by Vinita Kumar, Additional Divisional Railway Manager (ADRM) of the Dhanbad Division. Acting on the spot, the ADRM found 11 passengers travelling without valid tickets, all of whom had reportedly been illegally accommodated by the two TTEs in exchange for cash.
The Vande Bharat Express, known for its premium services and strict ticketing protocols, was under routine scrutiny when the major lapse was uncovered. The train, running between Patna and Tatanagar, is equipped with reserved seating and electronic ticketing systems—making the presence of 11 unauthorised passengers a serious breach of railway protocol.
Eyewitness accounts and evidence gathered during the inspection pointed clearly towards misuse of authority by the two TTEs. Instead of reporting the ticketless passengers or charging penalties as per railway rules, they allegedly pocketed the fare in cash and allowed the passengers to travel.
Following the inspection, a detailed report was submitted to the Chakradharpur Railway Division. After a thorough preliminary review, Senior Divisional Commercial Manager (Senior DCM) Aditya Chaudhary took swift action, removing both TTEs from train duty with immediate effect. For the time being, they have been reassigned to Tatanagar Station pending a full departmental inquiry.
“The matter is being investigated thoroughly. Strict disciplinary action will be taken after the final report,” said Senior DCM Aditya Chaudhary. He also reiterated the zero-tolerance policy of the Railways toward corruption and negligence, especially involving premium trains like the Vande Bharat Express.
This incident has raised serious concerns about the monitoring mechanisms on board premium category trains. The Vande Bharat Express, launched with great fanfare and seen as a symbol of India’s modern rail infrastructure, demands high levels of service integrity and professionalism.
Railway officials have assured that such incidents will not be tolerated and that efforts are underway to tighten supervision protocols, including more frequent surprise inspections, installation of CCTV cameras, and possible biometric attendance monitoring for onboard staff.
Passengers and railway unions alike have expressed concern over the breach. “This goes against the very premise of why people choose Vande Bharat. We expect quality and transparency,” said Ramesh Jha, a regular traveller between Patna and Jamshedpur.
Meanwhile, sources within the railway department indicate that more such surprise checks may be conducted on other trains in the region to weed out similar irregularities.
