Thane: E-challan leads to bike thief’s arrest

The traffic police team with Umesh Thakur and the stolen scooter

A man was arrested in Thane after police traced a stolen scooter through an e-challan issued for a traffic violation. The traffic police issued a fine as the rider was not wearing a helmet, and the original owner, who received the notification, reported the issue to the authorities. Acting swiftly, the traffic police managed to track down and apprehend the suspect within two hours.

According to the police report, the Kasarvadavli unit of Thane traffic police was stationed at Nagla Bunder on the evening of June 15. A team comprising Yogesh Sanap, assistant police inspector, Kasarvadavli traffic unit was at the spot taking action against violators. "The traffic officials issued a fine for a scooter (MH 48 BU 2617) rider being without a helmet on the stretch. The e-challan message was sent to the owner who stays in Dombivli. He had already filed a case with the Manpada police station in Dombivli in 2023 regarding the bike being stolen. He approached the police and informed them about the e-challan being issued. The Manpada police checked the e-challan and found the action was taken by Kasarvadavli traffic unit. So they approached us and we shared the details," said API Sanap.

According to Sanap, the team swung into action immediately as they suspected that the person could be nearby. "With the help of technical details and their local network, the team found him after a two-hour search. The scooter and the theft were traced to Ghodbunder Road in Thane. The bike was seized, and the person was detained. He was further handed over to the Manpada police who are investigating the matter," he said.

The police have identified the suspect as Umesh Thakur, 38, who hails from Jharkhand and was staying on rental basis on Ghodbunder Road. "After the theft, Thakur had broken one side of the number plate but the traffic police team matched the missing digit and issued the e-challan. He had been roaming around with the bike for the past year," said a police officer.