TC misappropriates Rs 33 lakh, splurges it on video games

A senior Ticket Collector (TC) of the Central Railway (CR) has been arrested for allegedly misappropriating Rs 33 lakh and splurging it on playing video games, police said on Monday.

Bhupendra Vaidya, who was working as chief of the special squad of TCs, was arrested on August 6 by the CSMT Railway Police on the charges of cheating, forgery and criminal breach of trust, an official said.

The 49-year-old was suspended late last year after the offence came to light and was subsequently dismissed from service, he said.

A resident of Waghbil in adjoining Thane district, Vaidya used to siphon off money collected by his juniors as fine from ticket-less commuters, he said.

Vaidya and his fellow TCs had powers to get into any train between Thane and Kasara stations on the CR and fine ticket-less passengers, he said.

As per CR rules, after collecting the fine, TCs submit the same at the station master's office and get receipt number against it.

Vaidya used to take fine amount ...