Laid to rust! Over 32k vehicles in Kerala police stations

T'PURAM: As many as 32,302 vehicles that have been seized in connection with various cases till Dec 31 last year have been dumped in police station compounds in the state, govt figures say.

The vehicles have been rusting, occupying a major share of public space, and posing threat to the environment. Despite them lying there for years, many vehicles could not be released either because of pending cases or they have been unclaimed after being used for illegal activities.

For example, there are 117 unclaimed vehicles in various stations in Palakkad which the police have now decided to auction.

The highest number is in Malappuram (4,779) followed by Palakkad (2,853), Thrissur city (2,617) and Kozhikode city (2,102). All these four districts have an increased number of cases related to gold smuggling, in which vehicles are involved.

In 2017, the police had decided to simplify the procedures for releasing vehicles seized in connection with official duties.

According to the instructions issued back then, the police, instead of seizing the vehicles under section 207(1) of the Motor Vehicles Act (MVA), 1988, were asked to seize only their registration certificates and issue receipts. This was applicable to offences including driving without licence, driving by minors, and using a vehicle without permit as prescribed under MVA section 66(1).

Vehicles that have not paid taxes under section 11 of Kerala Motor Taxation Act should be released once payment receipt is produced. In the offences like rash and negligent driving that cause injury to others, since the inspection by a motor vehicle inspector is not required, the police should release the vehicle after inspecting its documents and preparing the mahassar.

In case of vehicles that are involved in accidents, the police should release them after examining all documents and completing the procedures relating to them, if they need not be produced before the court. In case of vehicles that are found abandoned, if they are not involved in any criminal offence, they should be returned after examining all details and completing the necessary formalities.

The circular was issued back then by the state police chief based on multiple complaints that the department was unnecessarily keeping in custody the vehicles booked even under petty cases for a long time, causing problems to owners.

The vehicles seized are categorised into six types - seized as material objects in criminal cases, abandoned, involved in traffic accidents, seized in relation to sand mining and smuggling, seized in excise cases, and seized by motor vehicles department for non-payment of taxes or insurance and handed over to police for safe custody.