Naharlagun/Itanagar, February 18: Police in the Itanagar Capital Region (ICR) have recovered 16 high-end vehicles from multiple locations in Naharlagun in connection with an inter-state vehicle fraud case. A 38-year-old man from Guwahati has been arrested, officials said on Wednesday.
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| Recovered high-end vehicles parked outside Naharlagun Police Station following a major inter-state vehicle fraud bust in ICR.(Image: TNP) |
ICR Superintendent of Police Nyelam Nega said the seizures were made by a police team led by SDPO Rishi Longdo after a case was registered at Naharlagun Police Station against Rupjyoti Das (38) of Dathgaon, Guwahati, under Sections 318(4) and 319(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Das is currently in police custody.
The recovered fleet includes a Toyota Fortuner, seven Mahindra Scorpio S11s, two Mahindra XUV300s, two Kia Seltos, one Maruti Brezza, one Hyundai Creta, one Maruti Jimny and one Mahindra Bolero.
According to investigators, Das allegedly impersonated a cluster head of HSBC Bank and claimed the vehicles were sourced from genuine bank e-auctions. Police suspect he rented around 71 vehicles from Assam, paid initial instalments to gain the owners’ trust, and later fraudulently sold over 40 of them to buyers in Arunachal Pradesh, promising to furnish valid documents later.
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Preliminary findings indicate that multiple cases linked to the fraud have also been registered in Assam.
SP Nega said all recovered vehicles have been handed over to Assam Police or returned to their rightful owners after completion of due legal formalities. Further investigation is underway to trace additional vehicles and identify more victims.
Police have advised the public to verify ownership and transaction documents with transport authorities, banks and law enforcement agencies before purchasing vehicles or entering into financial dealings to avoid falling prey to fraud.
