How two vehicle thefts led police to gang that sold stolen cars on e-platforms

Two cases regarding theft of Hyundai Creta cars led Delhi Police to a gang who were using online car selling portals to seek higher returns on stolen vehicles by forging documents of a similar model, however, of a different owner.

The syndicate came to light after two cases of vehicle thefts (both Hyundai Creta) were registered at the Amar Colony police station on February 4 and at the Shahbad Dairy police station on July 18.

“They obtained the details of genuine registered owner through open-source information portal and other sources. Thereafter, they used to prepare fake identification documents in the name of genuine owner, with photograph of one of themselves and further open bank account in the name of genuine owners. They also used to prepare fake registration certificate and engrave the engine chassis number of genuine cars accordingly. Thus, the stolen vehicles were made ready to be sold. Thereafter, one of these accused used to approach Cars24 and CarDekho to sell the stolen car. As this fake registration number was same to the genuine registration number, there will be no record of this vehicle, as ‘stolen vehicle’,” Additional CP (Crime) Sanjay Bhatia said.

Analysing the CCTV footage, the police recovered one of the stolen cars (Amar Colony) from Mayur Vihar Phase I. The car was in possession of Anwar Qureshi (42), a resident Jamia Nagar.

The police also recovered two mobile phones from Qureshi, which led them to startling details. “It was found that the mobile phone had data of 40 stolen vehicles and 20 fake bank account details. Besides, WhatsApp chats indicated the involvement of a well-organised syndicate,” Bhatia said.

The Eastern Range-I, Crime Branch, began working on the details recovered from Qureshi, which further led them to Puru Singh (24), who was involved in selling of various stolen cars to Cars24 on fake registration number plates and documents. Singh was arrested from Anand Vihar ISBT along with his associate Jayant Kumar Jena (42), while handing over a stolen car on fake registration to a Cars24 executive.

During interrogation, Qureshi told the police that he along with Shadab of Bijnor started sale-purchase of stolen vehicles at the instance of Danish (known as ‘Doctor Danish’) of Indore, MP.

The police stated that the suspects began selling stolen cars on online platforms after struggling to sell high-end vehicles at higher prices in the grey market, where the returns were low — around Rs 2 to 3 lakh for a Hyundai Creta. To secure better profits, they turned to online sales.

“Qureshi revealed that they first analysed and understood the workings of CarDekho and Cars24. These companies make payments only to the registered owners’ bank accounts. During this process, Qureshi came into contact with Mohammad Riyaz, a bank employee at AU Small Finance Bank in New Friends Colony, who facilitated the opening of fake bank accounts for transferring the money received from selling stolen cars,” said the Additional CP (Crime).

Another accused, Anwar, got in touch with co-accused Altaf and Shahil, both residents of Shaheen Bagh, Delhi, who ran a printing shop named ‘Saifi Print’.

“They also became involved and assisted in creating fake registration certificates for stolen vehicles, as well as other forged documents, including Aadhaar cards, PAN cards and no-objection certificates from banks,” Bhatia added.

Another accused Shahzad (Shadab’s brother) allegedly shifted stolen cars from one place to another. Meanwhile, a second-hand car dealer, Kishan, came in contact with Anwar, who helped him in procuring and supplying stolen cars to Qureshi.

“Qureshi using the 20 fake bank accounts he had opened transferred the money received by selling stolen cars,” an official said.

The police learnt that Vikas Mishra, an employee of CarDekho, had connections in online car selling firms. He worked as mediator between Anwar and car companies for selling stolen vehicles to these companies as ‘genuine’.

Similarly, working on other part of the similar modus operandi, another syndicate’s kingpin Puru Singh also disclosed using similar techniques. Similarly, operating under a similar modus operandi, another syndicate’s kingpin, Puru Singh, revealed that he was employing comparable techniques.

“His associates, Mohsin and Naushad, arranged stolen vehicles along with fake number plates and documents from Pawan. He came in contact with Kundan Giri, who had developed expertise in liaisoning with the executives of Cars24, as he was an ex-employee,” the official added.

Associates of Puru Singh include Jayant Kumar Jena (for showing vehicles to Cars24 executives), Mohsin (who procured stolen cars from Pawan and sold to Puru and Nausad), Naushad (sold stolen cars through Puru Singh), Kundan Giri, Brajesh Kumar (also an ex-employee of Cars24).

A total of 13 people have been arrested in the case and 20 cars have been recovered which include Hyundai Creta (7), Toyota Fortuner and Legender, KIA Seltos, Innova Crysta (3), Tata Harrier, Hyundai Alcazar, MG Hector, Maruti Brezza, Maruti Swift, Hyundai Venue and Mahindra Thar. Along with this, 20 mobile phones, three computers, 200 blank, chip embedded plastic cards used for making fake RCs, 15 cheque books and passbooks of various banks and 14 SIM cards were also recovered.

Jena was Giri’s close aide and mostly on his directions accompanied Puru and Brajesh Kumar in showing stolen vehicles to Cars24 executives, Bhatia said.

He had also provided SIM cards on his fake IDs to Giri. “Brajesh is also a close aide of Giri since both worked together at Cars24. As Giri was forced to leave the firm on some suspicious activities, he allured Kumar to join hands with him,” the police said. Of the 14 SIM cards, eight were issued on different IDs of Brajesh under different names with his own photo on each form.

“During investigation with Cars24, it was revealed that the 14 SIM cards recovered from Giri were used for booking inspection of 170 vehicles in last two years,” he added.

Meanwhile, the police is currently on the lookout of the remaining accused — Pawan and Danish — who were involved in supplying stolen vehicles to the arrested and Shadab, who is absconding.