Mumbai: 24 vehicles with suspicious number plates seized using e-challan device

Photo used for representational purpose. Pic/AFP

The Mumbai Traffic Police seized 24 vehicles with suspicious number plates while conducting e-challan in February. Among these, three are stolen vehicles, while the number plates of five vehicles turned out to be fake and the remaining vehicles are under verification.

The e-challan system makes it easier to fine traffic offenders and solve vehicle theft cases.

After a vehicle is stolen, a fake number plate is fixed on it while reselling it. When these vehicles violate traffic rules, e-challan is issued on the basis of the fake registration number plate fixed on the vehicle. However, the challan goes to the original owner of the vehicle due to the new scanning system and this helps the police track stolen vehicles.

Traffic Police DCP Nandkumar Thakur said the e-challan system has been updated this year and suspicious registration numbers have been added to it.

DCP Nandkumar Thakur told mid-day, "With the system being updated, it will now be easier to track stolen vehicles, vehicles used for crime and vehicles with fake number plates."

A state-wide list of suspicious registration numbers has been attached to the e-challan system.

A traffic police officer said that recently a vehicle in Ghatkopar violated traffic rules and e-challan was issued, following which it was found out that the number was fake. Furth investigation revealed that the vehicle was being used by an accused and the matter was transferred to the concerned police station.