Three commuters were allegedly caught using AI-generated fake season passes on a Mumbai AC local train, all carrying the same ticket number.
Ticket Inspector Prashant Kamble spotted the forgery when the passes were not opened through the official UTS app but as documents on phone browsers. Verification with Central Railway confirmed no valid tickets had been issued to them.
The trio, Niraj Talreja, Atharv Baag, and Aditi Manglurkar, were allegedly arrested and handed to Government Railway Police. An FIR was filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 for cheating and forgery. Authorities warn of strict legal action against fake ticket usage.
AI-Generated Fake Tickets on Mumbai Local
The incident occurred on the evening of November 28 aboard the 18:45 Parel to Kalyan AC local. The three passengers produced season passes saved on their phones as files, not through the UTS app, raising suspicion.
All tickets carried the identical UTS number XOOJHN4569, unlike genuine passes which have unique numbers. Rail officials found that the fake passes were created using AI tools, highlighting emerging sophisticated forgery methods targeting Mumbai’s railway network.
Detection and Legal Proceedings
Prashant Kamble, the vigilant ticket inspector, detected the anomaly while verifying tickets and escalated the matter to Central Railway officials. The tickets were linked to no registered passengers, indicating the passes were fraudulent.
Mumbai Police registered an FIR under multiple sections of the BNS 2023, including cheating and forgery, which can entail fines and imprisonment up to seven years. Railway Protection Force personnel have launched a broader probe into such AI-enabled ticket frauds.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
The Logical Indian notes that this case underscores the growing misuse of technology such as AI for illegal purposes, including public transport fare evasion. While AI holds promise to improve services and efficiency, it also demands upgraded safeguards and vigilant enforcement.
Encouraging responsible technology use, stricter ticket verification methods, and fostering a culture of ethical behaviour among commuters will be crucial.
