Nilgiris resident alleges truck parts went missing while vehicle was in police custody

Nilgiris resident alleges truck parts went missing while vehicle was in police custody

The owner of a pick-up truck that was seized from him by the police has petitioned the Nilgiris district Superintendent of Police as well as the District Collector, alleging that major parts of his truck had gone missing in the years that the vehicle was in the custody of the police.

Nagaraj, a resident of the Nilgiris, said the police had seized his vehicle in 2020, due to an alleged offence. The court had ruled that Nagaraj could take possession of his vehicle after paying a fine of ₹17,700.

Mr. Nagaraj said that he was shocked to find that after paying the fine, he tracked down his vehicle to the Pudumund Police Station where he found that the gearbox, spare tire, speedometer and other essential parts required to use the vehicle were missing from it.

Mr. Nagaraj said that he had purchased the vehicle for ₹9 lakh, and that he had been using it for his livelihood. “The vehicle helped me earn a living, transporting tea leaves, vegetable and other goods within the Nilgiris,” he said, adding that without the parts, the vehicle was simply a chassis with an engine.

“I have petitioned the SP and the Collector stating that I wish for the truck to be returned in the exact state in which it was seized from me. I have paid the fine as directed, and have also suffered financial losses from not using the truck for the duration in which it was in police custody,” he said.

Mr. Nagaraj said that he did not know if thieves had stolen the parts from his vehicle, but said that the police, once they seized any vehicle, should be responsible to ensure that it was kept safe.