MUMBAI: Two men who were allegedly a part of a gang that bought new bikes by duping banks, and later sold the vehicles at throwaway prices have been arrested by the crime branch of the city police.
The police have recovered 13 brand new bikes from the arrested accused -Furkhan Ahmed Shaikh (31) and Rafiq Waqar Shaikh alias Junaid (31). Also, another 25 bikes that this gang had sold in the past have been identified. At least seven others who were a part of this racket are wanted, said officials.
The gang members used to approach banks to procure a loan to buy a new bike by using fake documents. They would submit documents like PAN, Aadhaar or ration cards with fake photos superimposed on them. Even other documents submitted to the bank or bike selling agency, like bank account statements were bogus such that they would reflect a healthy balance. Also, salary slips and other address proof documents were forged.
The gang members would then modify the registration number plate of a bike, and sell it in places across the state with the fake registration numbers on them.
Inspector Nandkumar Gopale said that if such a bike were to be used for terror, or any other criminal activity, it would be nearly impossible to trace its owner.
The police said that they had got information about a few people selling newly purchased motorbikes at very low prices. "We sent decoy customers and arrested the two men. At first, we recovered two bikes from them," he said, adding that their interrogation led them to a bigger racket.
Once the gang members would get delivery of a new bike, they would ferry the new vehicle to places like Thane, Mumbra, Nashik, Malegaon and Dhule, through their associates, where it would be sold with the fake registration number. "In certain instances, the same registration number was used for three or four bikes," said deputy commissioner of police (crime) Akbar Pathan.
The police said they cannot rule out the possibility of the complicity of employees of the bike-selling agency and bank employees. Officials said that even regional transport officials or the police would never be able to trace the bike in the given circumstances.
The police also said that they have recovered several forged documents like PAN Aadhaar and ration cards besides fake bank statements which the gang used.