In a sweeping crackdown on organized crime, Delhi Police’s Inter State Cell has dismantled a sophisticated motor vehicle theft syndicate that operated across Delhi, NCR, Punjab, and Himachal Pradesh. Three accused have been arrested, and 16 luxury vehicles—including Toyota Fortuners, Kia Seltos, Hyundai Creta, and a Mahindra Thar—have been recovered.
The syndicate’s modus operandi was chillingly systematic: steal high-end cars, erase their identity, and resurrect them with forged documents before selling them to unsuspecting buyers.
The Case That Triggered the Crackdown
The trail began on August 5, 2025, when a Hyundai Creta was stolen from Pitampura, Delhi. Initially probed by Maurya Enclave Police, the case was later handed over to the Crime Branch’s Inter State Cell.
By December 24, 2025, secret intelligence pointed to a receiver of stolen vehicles in Jalandhar, Punjab. Acting swiftly, a raiding team led by Inspector Manmeet and supervised by ACP Ramesh Chander Lamba raided the premises of Damandeep Singh @ Lucky (42), uncovering four stolen Kia Seltos cars.
The Modus Operandi
- Procurement: Vehicles stolen from Delhi and NCR by auto-lifters.
- Tampering: Chassis numbers altered or replaced with those of “total-loss” vehicles.
- Forgery: Fake sale letters, fabricated bank NOCs, and forged registration papers prepared.
- Resale: Cars registered fraudulently in Punjab and Himachal Pradesh, then sold at competitive prices.
This elaborate system not only duped buyers but also inflicted financial losses on banks and insurance companies.
The Arrests & Recoveries
- Damandeep Singh @ Lucky (42, Jalandhar): Mastermind, ran a second-hand car dealership.
- Arvind Sharma (38, Chandigarh): Tech-savvy forger, prepared fake documents since 2019.
- Amandeep Singh (39, Pitampura, Delhi): Middleman, facilitated transport and sales of stolen cars.
Vehicles Recovered
- Kia Seltos: 5
- Honda Venue: 1
- Toyota Fortuner: 8
- Hyundai Creta: 1
- Mahindra Thar: 1
The Bigger Picture
This bust highlights the pan-India scale of organized auto theft, where syndicates exploit loopholes in registration systems and prey on unsuspecting buyers. The Crime Branch’s success in dismantling this network is a significant step toward curbing vehicle theft and fraud.
Police sources confirm that more arrests and recoveries are expected as the investigation expands into other states.
—The End
