1,700 unclaimed vehicles to be auctioned in Pune

Pune police have decided to dispose of more than 1,700 vehicles lying unclaimed in various police stations by auctioning them.

Highly placed sources in the city police said a proposal has been sent to the court for auctioning more than 800 vehicles in the first phase.

Pune police sources told DNA there are more than 1,700 two-, three- and four-wheelers lying in police stations across the city. Some of them were confiscated by the police or the regional transport office (RTO) for various reasons, including accident and vehicle theft.

A senior police inspector of the city police told DNA on condition of anonymity these vehicles cause major parking problems in police stations.

“Moreover, there is pilferage of parts of these vehicles,” he said, adding that some of these vehicles have been lying in the police stations for over a decade.

One of the main reasons for the pile-up is that most owners do not claim ownership of their stolen vehicles after they get compensation from insurance companies.

A police inspector attached to the city crime branch, on condition of anonymity said, “Once the chassis and engine numbers are erased, it is difficult to track the owner. In that case, the only option left before the police is to either track the owner through the registration number or auction the unclaimed vehicles after securing permission from the court,” he said.

Additional commissioner of police, Anant Shinde, told DNA that instructions have been recently issued to all senior police inspectors in-charge of police stations to expedite the process of disposing of vehicles.

He appealed to owners whose vehicles are lying in police stations to approach the court for the necessary order and claim their vehicles.