BALLARI: A major car rental fraud has come to light in Ballari, where a notorious individual, Md Zaheed Basha alias Sonu from Sindhanur in Raichur district, has duped over 200 car owners by renting their cars and then pawning the vehicles for money.
The accused promised to pay a monthly rent of Rs 50,000-60,000 to the car owners, but failed to do so after the initial months. Zaheed promised high rental income to the car owners, convincing them to rent their vehicles to him. Instead of returning the vehicles or paying the rent, Zaheed pawned the cars to unknown individuals, leaving the owners without their vehicles or rental income.
When the car owners tracked their vehicles using GPS, they found that the cars were pawned to other individuals, revealing the scam. The car owners, who had taken loans to purchase the vehicles, are now facing financial difficulties due to the loss of rental income and their vehicles.
“I had leased out my vehicles, a Mahindra Bolero Neo and Mahindra Scorpio N, to Zaheed through Yasir and Jilan who are known to me. I was promised a certain sum of money every month. We were assured that the vehicles would run for different departments and offices. The location of the vehicles showed Sindhanur, but the vehicles were not there and have been pledged to some people. One of those people has 60 vehicles in his possession, but has threatened the owners”, said Gopal, a vehicle owner.
“I borrowed money from a bank two months ago, bought a vehicle and handed over to Zaheed. I have not got any rent for the vehicle. We are requesting the police to get our vehicles released”, said J S Ishaq Ahmed, another affected vehicle owner. “I had given my private vehicle for rent, but I was told more than 200 vehicles have been pledged. Such people should be punished appropriately and such scams should not recur”, said Madhusudhan Reddy, another affected vehicle owner.
The car owners are left feeling cheated and are struggling to recover their losses. The affected car owners have filed a complaint with the Brucepet police station in Ballari. The police have taken up investigation and are on the lookout for the absconding accused and to recover the stolen vehicles.
