Mumbai : In a major crackdown on fraudulent advertisements, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) of Western Railway’s Mumbai Division has intensified efforts against fake ‘tantriks’ and ‘vashikaran babas’ plastering posters across suburban trains and platforms.
On October 14, RPF arrested Abdul Samad and two accomplices, seizing over 22,000 illegal posters that promised supernatural solutions for personal, health, and financial problems, which misled commuters and defaced railway property.
Following complaints via social media and the Rail Madad portal, a special enforcement team led by Sub-Inspector Santosh Soni apprehended Samad at Andheri station with 600 posters in hand. He later revealed the hideout of the main culprits in Mira Road, leading to the seizure of the remaining posters.
“This is part of an ongoing operation to cleanse railway premises of illegal and misleading advertisements,” said an RPF official, emphasizing efforts to curb fraudulent practices and maintain train aesthetics and safety.
In the past month alone, RPF teams have caught 29 offenders and confiscated 49,100 posters, with fines totaling Rs 13,000. A similar drive in May 2025 resulted in 53 arrests, 37,400 posters seized, and Rs 26,500 in penalties.
This continuous campaign underscores the RPF’s commitment to keeping Mumbai’s suburban railway network safe and free from deceptive practices.
