Same number plate found on four trucks in Nagpur; transporters booked
Crime Branch's anti-vehicle theft squad seized four trucks bearing one registration number, allegedly used to evade finance company recovery agents.
Transporters in Nagpur used an unusual method to escape the notice of a finance company and a bank. The number of one truck was put on three other vehicles as well, so that no one could stop their vehicles on the road. The Crime Branch's anti-vehicle theft squad has busted the racket. Police have seized four vehicles.
A case has been registered against the transporters. The accused include Rajendra Singh Satnam Singh Randhawa (51) and Sukhdev Singh Rajendra Singh Randhawa (24), residents of Netaji Nagar in Kalamna. Shiva Singh Laxman Jadhav, a resident of Hirapur in Raipur, is also among the accused.
The Crime Branch team had received information that trucks carrying goods to and from the Kalamna market premises were running with the same number plate. According to police, the transporters were putting one number on several trucks and causing a loss of revenue to the government.
Acting on this information, police raided the parking area of Kalamna Market late on Sunday night. During the check, the number MH40-CT8683 was found on four trucks. Questioning revealed that the trucks belong to Randhawa.
One truck was also loaded with Parle biscuits and 210 sacks of rice. Police seized all four trucks on the spot. The investigation found that one of the trucks carried its genuine number and was clear of finance company dues.
The instalments and loans on the other vehicles were still outstanding. According to police, the transporters had put the same number on their three other vehicles so that finance company staff could not seize them. A case has been registered against Randhawa at Kalamna police station under sections relating to fraud. Kalamna police are conducting further investigation.
Police suspect that the network of forgery is not limited to these trucks. Fake number plates may have been used on other vehicles as well.
The action has caused alarm among other transporters and vehicle owners who run vehicles with fake number plates. Police are now conducting a deeper investigation in the Kalamna area to trace bank loan fraud, evasion of RTO revenue and other possible vehicles with fake numbers.
