Surat : In a shocking turn of events, a parking contractor in Surat has been arrested for stealing a Mercedes car worth Rs 12 lakh that was seized from Nakoda Textiles and parked in the Varachha Minibazar SMC parking lot.
The Crime Branch, acting on a tip-off, arrested the parking contractor, Vijay Sutaria, along with his diamond broker friend, Hiren Maniya, and garage owner, Mayur Chotalia. The trio is accused of selling the car to a scrap dealer for Rs 95,000.
Modus Operandi
According to the Crime Branch, Sutaria, who had access to the car keys, hatched a plan to sell the vehicle. He contacted Chotalia, who in turn roped in Maniya to help him dispose of the car.
However, their plan went awry when they were unable to start the car. Undeterred, they contacted a scrap dealer, Sarfaraz, and struck a deal for Rs 95,000. Sarfaraz towed the car away in the night.
Investigation and Action Taken
The Crime Branch launched an investigation and soon apprehended Sutaria, Maniya, and Chotalia. They also raided Sarfaraz's premises but could not find him or the car.
The Crime Branch has declared Sarfaraz wanted and is taking further action. They suspect that Sarfaraz has dismantled the car and sold its parts.
Parking Contractor's Other Contracts
Investigation revealed that Sutaria, apart from the Minibazar parking lot, also holds contracts for the Kadarshani Nal multilevel parking and the Piplod parking on the road near Rahul Raj Mall. These contracts have been under his company, Satkar Enterprises, for the past one and a half years.
Implications
The incident has raised concerns about the security of vehicles parked in public spaces. It also highlights the need for stricter supervision of parking contractors and their employees.
The Crime Branch's swift action in apprehending the culprits is commendable. However, it is crucial to address the underlying issues that led to this incident to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
