The Enforcement Directorate has busted a large-scale illegal toll collection racket involving approximately 100 NHAI-linked plazas. The scam involved using unauthorized apps to collect crores from non-FASTag vehicles.

  • ED uncovered illegal toll collection at ~100 NHAI-linked highway plazas.
  • Unauthorized apps 'Mobdata' and 'Any' were used to bypass official systems.
  • Raids conducted in UP, Rajasthan, MP, J&K, West Bengal, and Delhi-NCR.
  • ₹1.03 crore in cash and 8 bank accounts seized/frozen.

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) has revealed a sophisticated illegal toll collection network operating across nearly 100 highway toll plazas authorized by the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI). The agency discovered that these plazas were utilizing two unauthorized mobile applications to collect massive sums of money from vehicles lacking FASTag stickers, effectively bypassing the official revenue channels.

The Mechanics of the Fraud

According to the agency, the unauthorized applications, identified as 'Mobdata' and 'Any', were specifically deployed to target vehicles without FASTag. These apps allowed operators to collect cash and issue fake digital receipts, ensuring that the collections remained invisible to the NHAI's official monitoring systems. Forensic examinations of seized digital devices have revealed that the scale of this illegal activity amounts to crores of rupees in unreported revenue.

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Forensic examination of digital devices revealed that unauthorized toll receipts running in crores were recorded through this illicit mechanism.

Nationwide Raids and Seizures

The ED launched a series of coordinated searches on September 2 across multiple states, including Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, West Bengal, and Delhi-NCR. During the raids at 14 different premises, officials seized ₹1.03 crore in cash, along with various account books, bank documents, and digital devices. To prevent further laundering of the proceeds, eight bank accounts associated with the accused have been frozen.

Why This Matters

BozokMedia analysis shows that this incident highlights a critical vulnerability in the digital payment infrastructure of India's highway network. The ability of intermediaries to run parallel, unauthorized digital ecosystems suggests a deep-seated systemic issue where technology is being weaponized to siphon off public funds. This breach not only affects NHAI's revenue but also undermines the integrity of the FASTag ecosystem designed for seamless travel.

The investigation gained momentum following a January 2025 FIR filed by the Mirzapur district police in Uttar Pradesh. The original complaint alleged large-scale fraudulent activities at the Atraila Shiv Gulam toll plaza. Following these findings, the ED has registered a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) to trace the full extent of the money laundering network.

Did You Know?: FASTag was introduced to eliminate manual cash handling at tolls, yet this scam utilized digital tools to recreate the very lack of transparency it was meant to solve.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Which apps were used for the illegal toll collection?
The unauthorized apps identified by the ED are 'Mobdata' and 'Any'.

2. Where did the ED conduct its raids?
Raids were conducted in Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, J&K, West Bengal, and Delhi-NCR.