Archive · 2 Oct 2026
Bombay High Court Notices Alleged RTO Safety Device Verification Lapses
A company has asked the Bombay High Court to examine how some public vehicles were approved.
The company says officials did not properly check tracking devices and emergency panic buttons.
These devices are meant to help track vehicles and provide emergency assistance.
The company says 12 identification numbers for its devices were changed in government records.
It says at least 10 vehicles were then allowed to operate.
The company also says earlier complaints did not lead to effective action.
It has asked for a police case and a detailed forensic investigation.
The court has issued notices, but the allegations have not yet been proven.
A petition alleges Maharashtra RTOs approved public vehicles without physically verifying mandatory tracking devices and panic buttons.
The devices are required under Rule 125H of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989, for specified public transport vehicles.
Om Auto Tech claims 12 inventory IMEI numbers were altered and mapped to other vehicles in government records.
The petitioner alleges at least 10 commercial vehicles were cleared despite lacking functional connections to government monitoring systems.
The Bombay High Court issued notice and was asked to order an FIR, forensic investigation and stricter enforcement.
- Who
- Om Auto Tech filed the petition against alleged lapses involving Maharashtra Regional Transport Offices and Inspectors of Motor Vehicles.
- What
- The petition alleges that vehicles received registration approvals and fitness certificates without proper verification of AIS-140 tracking devices and emergency panic buttons.
- When
- The petition is reported on October 1, 2026; the petitioner says it complained to police in June 2025.
- Where
- The alleged lapses involve RTO jurisdictions including Mumbai Central, Andheri, Borivali, Panvel and Navi Mumbai, Maharashtra.
- Why
- The petitioner seeks enforcement of mandatory safety requirements, an FIR and a time-bound forensic investigation into alleged vehicle and device data manipulation.
- Court
- Bombay High Court
- Petitioner
- Om Auto Tech, an authorised device distributor
- Rule cited
- Rule 125H of the Central Motor Vehicles Rules, 1989
- Safety equipment
- AIS-140 Vehicle Location Tracking Devices and emergency panic buttons
- Alleged altered identifiers
- 12 IMEI numbers
- Vehicles allegedly affected
- At least 10 commercial vehicles
- Court action
- Notice issued to the respondents