ED raids 14 locations in toll plaza scam, seizes ₹1.03 crore cash
Synopsis
A parallel toll-collection network running across roughly 100 Indian highways — hidden from NHAI's own systems through two rogue apps — has been cracked open by the ED. Fourteen simultaneous raids across six states, ₹1.03 crore in seized cash, and eight frozen bank lockers signal that what began as a single Mirzapur toll plaza complaint has grown into one of the country's largest highway revenue fraud investigations.
Key Takeaways
The ED's Allahabad Sub-Zonal Office raided 14 premises across 6 states on 3 September under the PMLA, 2002 .
Approximately ₹1.03 crore in cash was seized and 8 bank lockers were frozen during the searches.
Two unauthorised apps — 'Mobdata' and 'Any' — were used to collect tolls off-system and generate fake receipts, bypassing NHAI 's official records.
Forensic analysis indicates the same fraud mechanism was deployed at around 100 toll plazas across India.
The probe originated from a Uttar Pradesh Police FIR following the exposure of fraud at Atraila Shiv Gulam Toll Plaza , Mirzapur , in January 2025 .
Intermediaries and NHAI-entrusted toll collection entities are under examination; further action is expected.
The Directorate of Enforcement (ED)'s Allahabad Sub-Zonal Office on Tuesday, 3 September carried out search operations at 14 premises spanning Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal, and Delhi-NCR in connection with a large-scale toll plaza fraud. The raids, conducted under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002, resulted in the seizure of approximately ₹1.03 crore in cash and the freezing of eight bank lockers.
Origins of the Investigation
The ED probe stems from an FIR registered by Uttar Pradesh Police concerning fraudulent toll collection practices, centred initially on the Atraila Shiv Gulam Toll Plaza in Mirzapur. In January 2025, state police exposed a scheme in which an unauthorised mobile application was used to collect tolls from vehicles without FASTag or with insufficient FASTag balance. The app generated fake receipts while concealing the collections from the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI)'s official system, causing substantial revenue loss to the authority.
How the Fraud Operated
ED investigators identified two unauthorised applications — 'Mobdata' and 'Any' — that were developed and deployed to facilitate off-system toll collection from non-FASTag vehicles. Dedicated portals were maintained to monitor these illegal collections, effectively running a parallel revenue stream hidden from NHAI oversight.
Forensic examination of digital devices recovered from the accused revealed that the same mechanism was replicated across approximately 100 toll plazas nationwide. Digital records showed unauthorised toll receipts running into crores of rupees, pointing to a systemic and organised operation rather than isolated misconduct.
Network of Intermediaries Identified
Further investigation has brought to light the involvement of intermediaries and toll collection entities that had been officially entrusted by NHAI to manage toll operations. According to officials, these entities allegedly deployed the unauthorised applications, raising questions about the integrity of the outsourced toll management ecosystem. A wider network of associated persons and entities has been identified and remains under detailed examination.
What Was Seized
During the searches, the ED recovered ₹1.03 crore in cash along with books of account, financial records, bank-related documents, and digital devices. A large volume of incriminating material — including toll-wise collection data, non-FASTag transaction logs, bank account details, and records of suspicious communications — was also seized. Officials stated that the cash recovery and digital evidence strengthen the case for systematic diversion of public revenue through the unauthorised toll collection network.
Investigation Ongoing
The money-laundering aspects of the case are still under active investigation. With around 100 toll plazas potentially implicated and a multi-state network under the scanner, further action — including possible arrests and attachment of proceeds of crime — is expected as the probe advances.
Point of View
Not external hacking. The ED's multi-state sweep is a start, but the harder question is why NHAI's own audit mechanisms failed to flag discrepancies in toll receipts long before police registered an FIR.
NationPress
3 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the toll plaza scam being investigated by the ED?
It is a large-scale fraud in which two unauthorised mobile applications — 'Mobdata' and 'Any' — were used to collect tolls from non-FASTag vehicles at toll plazas without reporting the revenue to NHAI's official system. The scheme, first exposed at Atraila Shiv Gulam Toll Plaza in Mirzapur in January 2025, is now believed to have operated across approximately 100 toll plazas nationwide.
What did the ED recover during the 3 September raids?
The ED seized approximately ₹1.03 crore in cash, along with books of account, financial records, bank documents, and digital devices. Eight bank lockers were also frozen, and a large volume of incriminating material including toll-wise collection data and suspicious communication records was recovered.
Which states were covered in the ED raids?
The searches spanned 14 premises across Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Jammu & Kashmir, West Bengal, and Delhi-NCR — reflecting the multi-state reach of the alleged fraud network.
Who is implicated in the toll plaza scam?
Investigation has identified intermediaries and toll collection entities officially entrusted by NHAI as allegedly involved in deploying the unauthorised applications. A wider network of associated persons and entities is under detailed examination, though no arrests have been publicly confirmed yet.
What happens next in the ED investigation?
The money-laundering aspects of the case remain under active investigation. With digital evidence secured and bank lockers frozen, further action — including possible attachment of proceeds of crime — is expected as the ED examines the full extent of the network across approximately 100 toll plazas.
