After an investigation by the city police, it has come to light that some personnel of the force are allegedly part of a bike theft network. In the last two months, 13 bikes have been stolen from Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital.
After this, the Flower Bazaar Police formed a special team to investigate the case. Police recovered 17 two-wheelers, three cars and are interrogating a suspect, his partner, mechanic and police personnel including a Sub-Inspector, reported The New Indian Express.
On Thursday night, police found two bikes with same number plates at a mechanic shop. When the mechanic Shahim Shah was questioned, he first called it a mistake and then confessed to being part of a bike lifting gang.
Police told TNIE that the mechanic was supposed to change the number plate and sell the bikes to people in different districts. He even used to take photocopies of RC (registration certificate) books of the customers who got their bikes to the shop for repairing and would use them on the stolen bikes.
The mechanic named Mohammed Sherif, (27), is a resident of Korratur, and he is alleged to have stolen the bikes. It is reported that he even staged a suicide by cutting his hand and was admitted to the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital.
Mohammed Sherif mainly targeted Royal Enfield, Honda Activa and Bajaj Pulsar. He only stole vehicles which had run less than 2,000 km.
Police suspects that police personnel from MKB Nagar police station were connected to Shah and the inspector Balamurugan was also one of their customers. One policeman, Kathick also bought a bike and sold it to Suresh of the same police station. Police is currently questioning the police personnel from MKB Nagar police station, reported TNIE.
The special team of police also came across another suspect, Asif, who was involved in car theft. The investigation is still in progress and police speculate that it could be a much bigger network.