VZM cops bust car rental scam, recover 29 vehicles

Visakhapatnam: Police arrested two persons on charges of cheating car owners by promising them

rental income

from

taxi service

.

Police recovered 29 cars worth over Rs 2 crore. The accused were identified as M Chandramouli, a native of Parvathipuram in Vizianagarm district and L Siva Ramakrishna, a resident of Seethampeta in Srikakulam district. The third accused, S Ravi, a native of Bobbili, is absconding.

The accused used to identify car owners in need of money and would promise owners a monthly income of Rs 25,000 as rent on their car. Worried over EMIs and vehicle maintenance, many would consider the offer.

Vizianagaram

police chief B Raja Kumari said one P Rajesh of Srikakulam district had filed an FIR on May 29, claiming that Chandramouli had promised him a monthly income (Rs 29,000) in the form of rent for his car.

Chandramouli and L Siva Ramakrishna took away his car after entering into an agreement. They neither gave him money nor returned his car. Later, Rajesh came to know that they had mortgaged the car.

Parvathipuram police investigated the case and nabbed Chandramouli. Chandramouli along with two others used to hire cars in Vizianagaram, Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam districts by paying a small advance but never returning them.

Chandramouli said they had mortgaged 29 rented cars to various persons by taking loans of Rs 2 lakh to Rs 2.5 lakh. The gang pledged the rented cars for money to meet their vices and other expenses, Raja Kumari added.

Car owners from Parvathipuram, Battili, Seethampeta, Cheedikada and Vizag have claimed 23 cars seized from the gang.

Police said some gangs were cheating people on the pretext of earning income via car rental during the Covid-induced financial crisis and appealed to people not to fall prey to such fraudsters.