The Delhi High Court rejected an anticipatory bail plea from a clerk accused of involvement in an inter-state vehicle theft and registration scam. The accused, Gaurav Bhardwaj, allegedly participated in a syndicate that stole vehicles, altered chassis numbers, and used fake documents for registrations across states. The prosecution claimed that the accused misused email credentials to manipulate registrations through the Vaahan portal.
The defence argued against the prosecution’s case, stating that manual registration was required for vehicles from Telangana in Himachal Pradesh. They also contested the evidence linking the accused to the Vaahan website. The prosecution, however, presented communication from Telangana authorities indicating that the registration numbers in question were fake.
The investigation revealed that many vehicles processed by the accused were stolen and had altered registration details. The court was informed that the accused was on the run, and custodial interrogation was necessary to uncover the broader conspiracy. Justice Kathpalia emphasized the seriousness of the alleged crimes and the importance of custodial questioning in denying the bail plea.
The accused, who has been suspended, faces ongoing scrutiny regarding vehicles registered during his tenure. The court’s decision to dismiss the anticipatory bail application was based on the gravity of the offenses and the need for further investigation.
