Police register FIR on 900 Kia engines ‘missing’ from Penukonda plant

Over ₹50 crore worth of car engines missing from Kia plant triggers major police investigation.

Around 900 car engines, approximately worth over ₹50 crore, were reported missing from Kia’s manufacturing plant near Penukonda of Sri Sathya Sai district, during the last five years. An FIR was filed, based on a complaint from the Kia management, 10 days ago, the police said.

The revelation triggered a police investigation into the episode, believed to be a major security breach, with a possibility of an ‘insider angle’.

According to the Penukonda police, the Kia Motors lodged a complaint on March 19, following the detection of the missing goods during a regular internal inspection. Superintendent of Police V. Ratna had immediately inspected the plant at Penukonda plant along with senior police officials, though it was projected as a regular visit.

A preliminary inquiry observed that the theft might have occurred during the transportation of the engines from Chennai to Penukonda. “It’s not done all at once. We have information that the plant delivers the engines to various outlets in the country after receiving the indents.”

A version is that for an indent for four engines, five were said to have been delivered each time. This is just one angle of suspicion based on the verification of the indents. “We are going to verify the CCTV footages at all vulnerable junctions not only in and around Penukonda but elsewhere on the vital national highways and transit routes,” a police officer, who is part of the investigation team said. The police are expected to question several staff and representatives of the various shell companies around, including those who retired during the period in question.

Speaking to The Hindu, Deputy SP (Penukonda Sub-Division) Y. Venkateshwarlu confirmed the complaint about the incident, and said that “we are thoroughly investigating the case”. The official did not rule out an “insider angle”.

The detection of the theft, involving a series of car engines in phases, which went on since 2020 created a big puzzle not only among the police and the Kia personnel, but also shock to the entire motor vehicle industry in India and abroad.