Inter-state vehicle theft network busted

SURAT: Crime branch sleuths unearthed an interstate network of vehicle theft in which stolen vehicles were re-registered in Gujarat to avoid getting traced. Police arrested one of the three gang members involved in the crime.
Manish Chovatiya, 33, a resident of Varachha area in the city was arrested on Wednesday with a stolen Chevrolet Tavera. During questioning Chovatiya could not give satisfactory reply following which police sent the vehicle for examination.During the forensic investigation it was found that the engine and chassis number of the vehicle were tampered.
Following the revelation, police checked registration details of the vehicle number GJ-3-EC-3122 in Rajkot at the vehicle dealer. From the company dealer police came to know that the vehicle was sold in Mumbai. When the Mumbai police investigated they found that it was stolen few months back.
Chovatiya confessed the crime and informed that he was accompanied by Alpesh Ramesh Kalaskar, another resident of Varachha area and Mohsin Attaullah Khan of Petlad area. Police is on the hunt of the other two accused who are absconding.
Chovatiya informed police that he carried out 10 other vehicle thefts in past and sold the vehicles after their re-registration in state. Chovatiya was arrested by the crime branch for vehicle theft in past.
The accused used to steal vehicles from other states to avoid getting traced by the vehicle engine and chassis number. Then, he used to tamper with them before registering them again at the Rajkot regional transport office. With the help of forge documents the vehicles were re-registered.