Hyderabad shocker: Drunk BMW driver uses gadget to switch number plate in seconds, lands in police custody

We've all seen those wild car chases in movies where gadgets save the day, but pulling off a James Bond stunt in real life? That's just next level.

It might sound like something straight out of a movie, but a scene like this actually played out in the bustling city of Hyderabad.

James Bond moment on Hyderabad roads

Late Saturday night on April 10, 2026, in upscale Jubilee Hills, traffic cops waved down a BMW during a drunk driving check near Chiranjeevi Blood Bank. According to an NDTV report, driver Dr. Gautham Reddy, around 30 years old, from Gandhinagar, blew 137 mg/100 ml on the breathanalyser, which is far over the 30 mg limit.

When asked for details, he hit a remote, flipping the plate from TS9FQ9999 (Telangana) to DL6CM7097 (Delhi) in seconds, stunning officers.


It looked like how 007's Aston Martin flips from films like GoldenEye and Skyfall.

James Bond style license plate switch gets exposed

The Telangana plate TS9FQ9999 traced to another family BMW at Reddy's home, and Delhi's DL6CM7097 was fake for dodging e-challans and cameras. The incident has been making headlines ever since. Apart from this, Reddy refused to share other details, so cops seized the car.

However, hiding number plates is not new, but this technology actually looked like a scene from a fiction film. According to an NDTV report, “Avoiding fake number plates isn't new, but this kind of advanced setup is rare. It appears to be a calculated attempt to dodge penalties and mislead digital surveillance," said N Ravinder, inspector (traffic), Jubilee Hills Police Station.

They suspect a private decor shop installed it; the probe for accomplices is ongoing.

Reddy faces legal charges

Reddy faces charges for drunk driving under Motor Vehicles Act, plus cheating and impersonation. Officials noted the doctor's blood alcohol content was far beyond legal limits - his 137 mg/100 ml compared to the allowed 30 mg.