Unclaimed vehicles rust in police stations

Lokmat News Network

Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

Thousands of seized vehicles, worth lakhs, are rusting in police stations, the Commissioner’s Office and the RTO yard, turning into scrap. With many stations operating from rented premises, officers struggle for space while these abandoned vehicles pile up, overgrown with weeds and infested with snakes and insects.

Vehicles are confiscated in accidents, thefts, legal disputes, and enforcement actions. Many remain unclaimed for years some because victims' families refuse to take them, others stuck in prolonged legal battles. More than 2,000 vehicles lie abandoned at MIDC Cidco, Cidco, Kranti Chowk, MIDC Waluj, Waluj and the Commissioner’s Office.

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Last auction held 4 years ago

The last major auction happened in 2020 when then-DCP Nikesh Khatmode cleared 375 vehicles from Zone 1, while Rahil Khade auctioned 76 unclaimed vehicles from MIDC Cidco. Some were scrapped with court approval.

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Legal hurdles delay disposal

Seized vehicles fall into three categories:

Unclaimed vehicles

Vehicles confiscated in government actions

Trucks and tempos held since as early as 2003

Under Section 87 of the Mumbai Police Act, unclaimed vehicles can be auctioned after a public notice. However, many remain stuck due to missing documents, legal disputes, or lack of digitized records before 2009. The Transport Department mandates scrapping such vehicles to prevent misuse, but bureaucratic delays slow the process.

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Growing crisis, no solutions in sight

With space running out, officers struggle to manage daily operations. Despite clear legal provisions, a lack of coordinated action keeps the backlog growing. Without immediate intervention, police stations will remain junkyards, and valuable resources will continue to rot.