Earthmovers with same registration number attract Rs 4 lakh fine

NASHIK: The Nashik RTO, which has confiscated two earthmovers with the same registration number from the Cidco area on Friday, would slap a fine of around Rs 4 lakh on the owner.
The owner of the earthmovers, Kishor Ghuge, had purchased one of the machines in 2005 and the other in 2007. However, Ghuge had not got the second earthmover registered and put the registration number of the older machine on the new one, apparently in a bid to save money.
Inspector Atul Chavan of the Nashik RTO said on Friday, he came across an earthmover and started checking its papers. Subsequenty, he realised that he had already checked another vehicle with the same registration number earlier.
Chavan checked the chassis number of the vehicle and found that it was different from the one mentioned in its documents. Further investigations revealed that Ghuge had purchased another earthmover and simply put the registration number of the previous one.
Currently, both the earthmovers have been seized and kept at the ST depot on Dindori Road.
Chavan said Ghuge had not only evaded the registration fee and tax for the new machine since 2007, but had also not paid tax for the older machine since 2009. “The total fine and tax for both the earthmovers will be around Rs 4 lakh and we are in the process of recovering the amount,” he added.