Stolen MUV caught with fake plate similar to MLC's vehicle in Bengaluru

BENGALURU: Some quick-thinking by the personal assistant of a member of the legislative council helped city police unearth a racket dealing in stolen cars.
The gang members were caught red-handed while they were trying to sell a stolen multi utility vehicle (MUV) after fixing a number plate belonging to an MLC's vehicle on to the stolen car.
Police said three persons have been arrested, while search is on for the remaining gang members.
Last Wednesday, N Madesh, personal assistant (PA) to MLC SL Bhoje Gowda, spotted a Toyota Innova Crysta parked outside a used-car showroom near Jasma Bhavan on Queen's Road, Vasanthnagar. The registration number of the vehicle, KA-18-Z-5977, was exactly the same as MLC Bhoje Gowda's car. The colour of the car was also similar.
Madesh immediately contacted Annappa, Gowda's official driver, who confirmed that both Gowda and his Innova Crysta were in Chikkamagaluru. "That was when I clicked a picture of the vehicle and sent it to Annappa and Gowda," Madesh told STOI.
He was shocked when a person who identified himself as 'Imran' at the showroom, produced documents bearing Gowda's name as the owner of the vehicle.
Saying that he would return the next day, Madesh left the car showroom and informed Gowda, who contacted senior district police officials for help. However, by the time a trap was laid by police and Madesh was sent to the showroom the next day on the pretext of a test-drive, there was no sign of 'Imran' and some other person interacted with Madesh, feigning ignorance about the said Innova Crysta.
"We immediately detained the man in the showroom and succeeded in arresting two other suspects," an investigating officer said.
Manjunath, 45, from Attur, near Yelahanka, and Shabaz Khan, 31, from Mysuru were later arrested, while police said Imran and the other suspects were absconding.