Ahmedabad: The Ahmedabad Crime Branch today busted an interstate criminal racket responsible for the theft of more than 500 luxury cars from the Delhi NCR (National Capital Region) and neighbouring areas after altering the cars’ electronic security systems. The police nabbed two key members of the gang, who were found in possession of 10 stolen vehicles.

The nabbed gang leaders are Ashraf Sultan, commonly known as “Gaji,” hailing from Meerut in the state of Uttar Pradesh, and Irfan, alias “Pintu,” who comes from Ranchi in the state of Jharkhand. The apprehended suspects collaborated with around 25 other gang members from Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Rajasthan, and West Bengal to carry out their extensive car theft. This gang had stolen over 500 cars by bypassing the security system.

Operating according to a well-established modus operandi, these gang members would target luxury four-wheel vehicles, including models like “Fortuner, Innova, Scorpio, Creta, Brezza, etc.,” which they would steal from parking lots after manipulating the security systems of these vehicles using laptops. Subsequently, they would alter the engine chassis numbers of the stolen cars to match those of other vehicles registered in northeastern states. After securing No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from the Regional Transport Office (RTO) in the seven sister states, they proceeded to finalise the sale. To facilitate the transaction, customers would make advance online payments for booking the stolen vehicles. These stolen four-wheelers were sold in states other than the ones they were stolen from.

For the purpose of selling these four-wheelers in other states, Irfan, also known as Pintu, would often travel by plane, while Ashraf Ghazi would personally transport and deliver the stolen vehicles. The gang used to collect travel and lodging expenses from the customers. Each member of the gang earned around Rs. 25,000 in commissions through their involvement in the theft of these cars. To instill confidence among potential buyers, the gang would promise to provide new registrations and documentation for the stolen vehicles before facilitating their sale.

Some customers fell victim to advance payments for bookings but never received the vehicles or refunds. This gang sold these cars in states such as Gujarat, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, and Rajasthan.

These individuals had been on the radar of Delhi City Police’s Anti-Auto Theft Squad (A.A.T.S.) for approximately eighteen months. Notably, Ashraf Sultan Ghaji had previously faced arrest in connection with more than ten cases of four-wheeler thefts in Delhi and had been wanted by Delhi Police for 2.5 years. DeshGujarat