New Delhi: Indian Railways is facing a significant financial challenge after more than 1.27 crore bedroll items supplied to passengers in air-conditioned coaches were reported missing over a four-year period, causing an estimated loss of ₹104.51 crore to contractors providing linen services.

The figures were revealed through information obtained under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, which showed that bedsheets, blankets, towels, pillows and pillow covers supplied for AC coach passengers disappeared between January 2022 and May 2026.

Railway authorities have expressed concern over the increasing incidents and are planning stronger monitoring measures to prevent further losses.

AC Coach Bedroll Theft Causes Major Financial Impact

Passengers travelling in AC First Class, AC Two-Tier and AC Three-Tier coaches receive complimentary bedroll kits as part of their travel service. These kits generally include a bedsheet, blanket, pillow, pillow cover and towel.

However, repeated disappearance of these items has created financial pressure on both Indian Railways and private contractors responsible for supplying and maintaining the linen.

The RTI response, collected from railway divisions across the country, revealed that 54 divisions from 16 railway zones provided data on missing bedroll items. The information showed that theft incidents increased significantly after services resumed in January 2022 following their suspension during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Rajasthan, Delhi and Other Divisions Report Highest Losses

According to the available data, several railway divisions recorded a large share of reported theft cases. Divisions including Bikaner, Jodhpur and Jaipur in Rajasthan, Delhi, Mumbai, Ahmedabad, Ranchi, Sonpur, Danapur and Bilaspur accounted for nearly two-thirds of the reported missing items.

The data also showed different divisions reporting the highest losses for specific items. Bikaner recorded the largest number of missing bedsheets, Delhi reported the highest towel losses, Sonpur recorded the most missing pillow covers, while Jodhpur had the highest number of missing blankets.

Railway officials believe that most incidents occurred in AC coaches, where passengers are provided with linen kits during journeys.

Staff Report Salary Deductions Over Missing Items

Employees involved in bedroll distribution and collection have raised concerns over the financial impact of missing items.

According to coach attendants, contractors often recover the cost of missing linen from employees’ salaries, creating additional pressure on frontline workers responsible for handling passenger services.

Staff representatives have sought improved systems to track bedroll movement and ensure accountability without unfairly burdening workers.

Some Railway Divisions Record Zero Theft Cases

While several divisions reported major losses, some areas recorded no bedroll theft incidents during the review period.

The Tiruchirappalli and Palakkad divisions of Southern Railway reported zero cases, while the Adra division of South Eastern Railway also recorded no such incidents. Railway officials said improved monitoring practices and passenger awareness may have contributed to better results in these regions.

Railways Plans Stronger Monitoring Measures

The Ministry of Railways has described the issue as misuse of public property and stated that steps are being taken to control the problem.

Officials clarified that there is currently no confirmed evidence indicating the involvement of railway employees in the thefts. Authorities are focusing on better surveillance, passenger awareness campaigns and stricter action against individuals found responsible.

The Railways aims to reduce financial losses and protect public resources by improving tracking systems and strengthening accountability across its passenger service operations.

Gadag: Authorities in Karnataka have dismantled a cyber fraud network accused of exploiting students by opening bank accounts in their names and using them to channel illicit funds. Five individuals have been arrested in connection with the case, police confirmed.

The operation, uncovered in Gadag district, involved the seizure of 11 mobile phones and eight “bank kits,” including passbooks, ATM cards, SIM cards, and online banking credentials.

Students Targeted With Scholarship Promise

Investigators revealed that the accused allegedly targeted students by offering assistance in securing government scholarships. Under this pretext, they persuaded students—particularly those staying in hostels—to open bank accounts.

Once the accounts were created, the suspects reportedly took control of all associated banking materials, including login details and SIM cards, effectively gaining full access.

Small Deposits Used to Build Trust

To avoid suspicion, the accused allegedly deposited around ₹2,000 into each account during the setup phase. This initial transaction was used to create legitimacy and reassure victims before the accounts were misused.

Police believe these accounts were later used as “mule accounts” to route money obtained from cyber fraud operations conducted across multiple regions.

Arrests Made During Goa Operation

The investigation began earlier this month and quickly led authorities to track the suspects’ movements to Goa. Police intercepted the group while they were allegedly attempting to hand over collected bank kits to other members of the network.

The main accused—identified as Raja (23) and Vakdoth Vakeel (24)—are residents of the Vijayanagara district. During interrogation, they reportedly admitted to coordinating with other associates for commission-based transactions.

Additional Suspects and Seizures

Further arrests included individuals working and residing in Goa, such as a hotel employee and a DJ. Authorities also seized multiple bank kits linked to accounts opened in different districts, including Haveri and Gadag, primarily in branches of Bank of Maharashtra.

One key suspect remains absconding, and efforts are ongoing to track additional members of the network.

Larger Network Under Investigation

Officials suspect the operation may be part of a wider, multi-state cybercrime network. Forensic analysis of seized devices and bank transactions is underway to determine the scale of the fraud and identify links to other cases.

Cybersecurity experts note that the use of mule accounts has become a widespread tactic in financial fraud schemes. By using accounts opened in the names of unsuspecting individuals, criminals can obscure money trails and evade detection.

Rising Concern Over Student Exploitation

The case highlights a growing trend where students and vulnerable individuals are manipulated into unknowingly participating in financial crimes. Authorities have urged the public to remain cautious and avoid sharing banking details or opening accounts on behalf of others without full understanding.

Investigations are ongoing, and more arrests are expected as police continue to unravel the network.

Warangal police have uncovered a sophisticated land registration fraud worth ₹3.90 crore, revealing how criminals exploited technical loopholes in Telangana’s online land registration systems to divert government revenue while generating documents that appeared fully legitimate.

What initially looked like routine land registrations across multiple districts turned out to be a coordinated digital scam that manipulated official fee payments on state-run portals. The investigation has so far led to 15 arrests and exposed serious vulnerabilities in the digitisation of land records.

Fraud Leveraged Weaknesses in Online Land Portals

According to police, the accused exploited gaps in the Dharani portal and its successor, the Bhu Bharathi platform, which are used for land registration and fee payments in Telangana.

Warangal Commissioner of Police Sunpreet Singh said the network used a mobile application and technical expertise to tamper with online challans at the payment stage. The accused allegedly paid reduced registration fees to the government but altered the digital receipts to reflect higher amounts. These forged challans were then submitted during land registrations, allowing transactions to proceed without raising immediate suspicion.

The manipulated receipts were routed through intermediaries and presented at Tahsildar offices, embedding the fraud within normal administrative processes.

Over 1,000 Documents Manipulated, ₹3.90 Crore Loss Estimated

Police have registered 22 cases so far—seven in Jangaon district and 15 in Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri district. Investigators estimate that at least 1,080 land documents were processed using forged payment receipts, causing a direct loss of approximately ₹3.90 crore to the state exchequer.

During raids, law enforcement seized ₹63.19 lakh in cash, property documents valued at nearly ₹1 crore, a car, two laptops, five desktop computers and 17 mobile phones. Authorities confirmed that nine additional suspects are still absconding, and further arrests are expected.

Middlemen and Service Centres Played Key Role

Investigators identified three individuals from Yadadri district—Pasunari Basavaraju, Jella Pandu and Maheshwaram Ganesh—as key conspirators in the operation.

Police said the trio worked with staff from Mee-Seva centres and private computer service centres operating in Jangaon, Yadadri-Bhuvanagiri and Nalgonda districts. The group allegedly recruited middlemen who facilitated agricultural land registrations using forged digital documents, earning commissions of 10% to 30% per transaction.

These intermediaries acted as the bridge between landowners, service centres and the falsified online records, enabling the fraud to scale across districts.

Authorities Flag Risks in Rapid Digitisation

Senior officials said the case underscores how digitisation—while designed to improve transparency and efficiency—can create new opportunities for technology-driven fraud if systems are not adequately secured.

Commissioner Sunpreet Singh praised the investigation team for dismantling the network, specifically commending officers from the West Zone, Jangaon district and Raghunathpally division for their coordinated effort. Cash rewards have been announced for the officers involved.

Police said financial trails are still being examined to identify additional beneficiaries and recover the remaining diverted funds. The investigation remains ongoing.