MKB Nagar cops suspected in bike lifting racket

Initial reports suggested that three police personnel, including a sub-inspector and a head constable attached to the MKB Nagar police station, were working hand-in-glove with a gang of motorbike thieves, who had reportedly stolen around 16 two-wheelers from different parts of the city.

The Government General Hospital outpost policemen cracked a case of bike theft when they took Shahanshah, a youth from MKB Nagar on grounds of suspicion for questioning. He confessed to the police that he was a mechanic and the vehicle was actually stolen by Mohammed Sherif, another youth from MKB Nagar. 

A police team went to the house of Mohammed Sherif on Thursday night and secured him. When the case was handed over to the Elephant Gate police, they questioned Sherif and it was only then they stumbled upon the involvement of some police personnel in the case. According to Sherif’s confession, the policemen had bought six motorbikes from him and sold them at higher rates. 

However, the investigating officers could not confirm the involvement of police personnel in the series of thefts though they had strong suspicion of the involvement of head constable Karthik. “We suspect that Karthik was involved in the case but are working on some leads to nail him. He claims that he brought the bike from Sherif without knowing it was a stolen one,” a senior police official said. 

Police also said Mohammed Sherif with the help of Shahansha, collected the duplicate copies of RC books and insurance of vehicles that came to them for repairs and service and used these papers to sell off the stolen bikes. They would first change the registration number plate to match the duplicate documents in their possession and then sold them at a premium. “Though we have not made any arrests so far, we hope to make a breakthrough in the case soon in what could be a major racket,” another official added.

A special police team under the head of Flower Bazaar Deputy Commissioner Sashank Sai has been formed to trace the bikes.