KOLKATA: Three businessmen who took a luxury SUV out for a spin late on Thursday night and were arrested on charges of drink driving. The car sported the registration plate of the South Korean consulate, though it was no longer in use by the authorities.
Police investigating the case said one of the three arrested businessmen, who owned the car, had deliberately retained the consulate registration plate even after the rental agreement was terminated by the South Korean authorities.
“The accused had been illegally using the registration plate since 2019. The police has asked the consulate if they would like to take additional legal action against the accused. He had retained it as consulate vehicles enjoy certain powers. In this case, it was used to ensure that the vehicle was not stopped at any checkpoints during the lockdown,” said a police officer.
The car — an Audi Q7 SUV — was stopped at a police checkpoint at the crossing of Russel Street and Middleton Street around 12.05am on Friday. Cops said the car was being driven “well past the speed limit” and the occupants were in an inebriated state.
“All occupants were inebriated. We have registered a FIR against them pertaining to various sections of fraud, cheating and criminal conspiracy besides slapping Section 85 of Motor Vehicles Act for drink driving and other sections of the Kolkata Police Act. The case is being investigated by Shakespeare Sarani police,” said DC (south) Meeraz Khalid. The detective department is assisting the traffic wing in the probe.
The accused were sent to police custody till May 4. Sources said that the first accused and owner of the car, aged 27, is a resident of Rawdon Street. He has a business of manufacturing manholes and drain covers. The second accused, aged 33, is a resident of Middleton Street and has a scrap iron business. The third accused, aged 45, is a resident of Rawdon Street and trades in pesticides. “They said they wanted to go out for a spin after they had drinks at a friend’s residence,” said an officer.
The vehicle was intercepted by a joint team from Shakespeare Sarani and South traffic guard.
Police investigating the case said one of the three arrested businessmen, who owned the car, had deliberately retained the consulate registration plate even after the rental agreement was terminated by the South Korean authorities.
“The accused had been illegally using the registration plate since 2019. The police has asked the consulate if they would like to take additional legal action against the accused. He had retained it as consulate vehicles enjoy certain powers. In this case, it was used to ensure that the vehicle was not stopped at any checkpoints during the lockdown,” said a police officer.
The car — an Audi Q7 SUV — was stopped at a police checkpoint at the crossing of Russel Street and Middleton Street around 12.05am on Friday. Cops said the car was being driven “well past the speed limit” and the occupants were in an inebriated state.
“All occupants were inebriated. We have registered a FIR against them pertaining to various sections of fraud, cheating and criminal conspiracy besides slapping Section 85 of Motor Vehicles Act for drink driving and other sections of the Kolkata Police Act. The case is being investigated by Shakespeare Sarani police,” said DC (south) Meeraz Khalid. The detective department is assisting the traffic wing in the probe.
The accused were sent to police custody till May 4. Sources said that the first accused and owner of the car, aged 27, is a resident of Rawdon Street. He has a business of manufacturing manholes and drain covers. The second accused, aged 33, is a resident of Middleton Street and has a scrap iron business. The third accused, aged 45, is a resident of Rawdon Street and trades in pesticides. “They said they wanted to go out for a spin after they had drinks at a friend’s residence,” said an officer.
The vehicle was intercepted by a joint team from Shakespeare Sarani and South traffic guard.
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