Mumbai: Man Arrested from Bengaluru for Creating Fake HSRP Website
Mumbai, 17th April 2025: A man has been arrested from Bengaluru by Mumbai’s South Region Cyber Police for allegedly creating a fake website to collect money from vehicle owners by providing dupe High Security Registration Plates (HSRPs). The man, identified as Vinod Vyankat Bawale, 57, is accused of cheating many people across Maharashtra.
The arrest came after multiple complaints were received by the transport department and police about a fake HSRP registration portal that looked very similar to the official government website. Victims said they were charged extra fees and, in many cases, never received the number plates after payment.
On March 5, Datta Nalawde, Deputy Commisioner filed a complaint at the South Regional Cyber Police Station after the department was alerted by two official HSRP vendors – Rosmarta Safety Systems Ltd and Real Mazon India Ltd – about six suspicious websites offering fake booking services.
The accused reportedly created the website indnumberplate.com, which collected payments from the vehicle Owners. The official HSRP websites, however, are listed on the Maharashtra Transport Department’s portal, and only three vendors are authorised to issue plates (Rosmarta Safety Systems Ltd, Real Mazon India Ltd, FTA HRSP Solutions Ltd.)
Bawale has been booked under Section 318(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and under Sections 66C and 66D of the Information Technology Act, related to identity theft and online fraud.
Police are now investigating whether more people were involved in the scam. Authorities have warned citizens to use only the government portal for HSRP bookings to avoid falling for cyber fraud.
