RPF Seizes ₹10.5 Cr Tickets In 5-Year Crackdown

The Railway Protection Force (RPF) has registered 1,676 cases of illegal railway ticket touting between 2022 and June 2026, seizing e-tickets and Journey-cum-Reservation (JCR) tickets worth over ₹10.5 crore.

The data, obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, shows that the RPF has been actively working to curb the illegal ticket booking networks across India. The highest number of cases was registered in 2024, with 502 cases, followed by 399 cases in 2023, 356 cases in 2025, 309 cases in 2022, and 110 cases up to June 2026.

During these operations, the RPF seized JCR tickets worth ₹88.49 lakh and e-tickets worth ₹9.62 crore, exposing the scale of the illegal railway ticketing business. The RPF also arrested hundreds of touts and agents, with 318 touts and 52 agents arrested in 2022, followed by 356 touts and 141 agents in 2023, 411 touts and 204 agents in 2024, and 429 touts and 13 agents in 2025.

Up to July 2026, 127 touts had been arrested, though no agent was held during the year. The RTI also shows that a few railway employees were found involved in the racket, with one arrested in 2022, two in 2023, and four in 2024. No railway employee was arrested in 2025 or 2026.

The RPF's sustained action against ticket touting has been praised by activist Anil Galgali, who obtained the RTI information from the RPF at Central Railway Headquarters, Mumbai. Galgali urged passengers to book tickets only through authorised platforms and avoid buying tickets from touts or unauthorised agents, saying public cooperation is essential to curb the illegal trade.

The crackdown on ticket touting is a significant step towards ensuring that railway tickets are available to genuine passengers at fair prices. The RPF's efforts have resulted in the seizure of a large number of tickets and the arrest of hundreds of touts and agents, sending a strong message to those involved in the illegal trade.

The Indian Railways has been facing the problem of ticket touting for many years, with touts and agents using various methods to book tickets in bulk and sell them at inflated prices. The RPF's crackdown on ticket touting is part of a larger effort to improve the efficiency and transparency of the railway ticketing system.

In recent years, the Indian Railways has introduced several measures to prevent ticket touting, including the use of technology to monitor ticket bookings and the introduction of a ticketing system that allows passengers to book tickets online. The RPF's efforts have complemented these measures, helping to reduce the incidence of ticket touting and ensure that railway tickets are available to genuine passengers.

The success of the RPF's crackdown on ticket touting highlights the importance of public cooperation in preventing the illegal trade. Passengers can play a significant role in preventing ticket touting by booking tickets only through authorised platforms and avoiding buying tickets from touts or unauthorised agents.

In conclusion, the RPF's seizure of ₹10.5 crore worth of tickets in a 5-year crackdown on ticket touting is a significant achievement that highlights the force's commitment to preventing the illegal trade. The crackdown is part of a larger effort to improve the efficiency and transparency of the railway ticketing system, and its success is a testament to the importance of public cooperation in preventing ticket touting.