Mumbai’s suburban rail network has now encountered a new form of ticket fraud — AI-generated fake season tickets. In a rare but alarming incident, three commuters travelling on the Parel–Kalyan AC local were detained and booked under strict provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), highlighting how technology misuse is expanding into public transportation.
AI-Generated Tickets: How the Fraud Was Detected
During a routine ticket inspection, Central Railway staff asked three passengers — Niraj Talreja, Atharv Baag, and Aditi Manglurkar — to display their season tickets through the official UTS mobile app. Instead, all three displayed image files stored on their phones.
On verification, officials discovered that the digital tickets carried the same UTS number: XOOJHN4569. Since every UTS ticket is uniquely generated, the anomaly prompted backend verification. Railway authorities further confirmed that no valid season ticket was issued against the mobile numbers provided by the passengers.
AI Tools Behind the Fake Tickets
Investigators later determined that the commuters had used AI-based tools to create realistic-looking digital season tickets. This raises concerns about the growing accessibility of fraud-enabling technology and its misuse in public services.
The individuals were taken to Kurla station and handed over to the Government Railway Police (GRP), who booked them under BNS sections related to:
- Cheating
- Forgery of electronic records
- Travelling without a valid ticket
These offences can carry serious penalties, including imprisonment.
Earlier Cases & Railways’ Heightened Vigilance
Central Railway officials confirmed that similar fake ticket cases have surfaced earlier this weekindicating a potential emerging trend. All such cases have been forwarded for deeper investigation to trace how these forged tickets are being generated and circulated.
In response, the railway administration has intensified checking on AC locals and other suburban services. Officials emphasised that:
“Screenshots, edited images, or stored files are not considered valid tickets. Only tickets generated through authorised methods are accepted.”
Railway’s Advisory for Commuters
Passengers are urged to purchase tickets only through:
- UTS mobile app
- ATVM machines
- Station ticket counters
The railway reiterated that using forged or manipulated tickets can lead to criminal prosecutionnot just penalties.
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