In a significant crackdown, Vasai police have apprehended five individuals allegedly involved in a sophisticated inter-state car sale racket. The operation, which saw the arrest of the suspects, led to the recovery of twelve vehicles valued at a staggering ₹2.84 crore.
The modus operandi of the gang involved the use of counterfeit documents to secure loans for purchasing high-end vehicles from various car dealerships. Subsequently, the group would manipulate the registration numbers of these vehicles before selling them off.
The unravelling of this criminal enterprise began when Jagdish Mali, a proprietor of a grocery shop in Galanagar, Nalasopara East, reported suspicious activity. Mali had unwittingly entrusted his identity documents and those of his wife to an individual named Rahul Shah in October 2022. Shah, posing as a Chartered Accountant from Gujarat, promised Mali a substantial loan of ₹2 crore for business purposes.
Months later, Mali found himself inundated with calls from banks, demanding payment for EMIs on a dozen cars and SUVs, including prestigious models such as Mahindra Thars and a BMW, allegedly purchased using loans obtained through his credentials.
Alarmed by these developments, Mali complained to the authorities, alleging fraudulent activities perpetrated by Shah and his cohorts. Consequently, on September 27, 2023, the Achole police registered a case against Shah and his accomplices under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including those related to cheating, forgery, and criminal conspiracy.
The investigation, employing mobile phone tracking and other technological means, led the police to Shah's location in Mumbai. Posing as a hotel guest under an alias, Shah was apprehended in Powai, where he was found in possession of multiple SIM cards, mobile phones, identification cards, and cash amounting to ₹3.34 lakh.
Further interrogation and information divulged by Shah led to the arrest of six additional accomplices spread across different states. Poornima Chougule-Shringi, Deputy Commissioner of Police, Vasai, revealed that the gang orchestrated the sale of the fraudulently acquired vehicles at prices below market value, exploiting unsuspecting buyers with promises of completing registration and documentation at a later stage.
The arrested individuals, with criminal records spanning multiple states including Gujarat, Bihar, and Mumbai, are currently in police custody. Authorities are now working to ascertain the full extent of the gang's operations and the number of vehicles procured through fraud.
The dismantling of this car sale syndicate marks a significant victory for law enforcement in curbing organised financial fraud and underscores the importance of vigilance in thwarting such illicit activities.