Delhi Police bust inter-state car theft gang; 8 arrested, 10 vehicles recovered
Synopsis
Delhi Police's Anti-Auto Theft Squad cracked open a cross-state car theft ring that used OBD scanners and duplicate keys to steal vehicles across Delhi-NCR — then sold them under fake identities or stripped them for parts. Eight arrests, 10 vehicles recovered, and 10 FIRs detected across the capital point to a syndicate far more organised than a typical theft crew.
Key Takeaways
Delhi Police AATS, South-West District arrested 8 accused — 5 active thieves and 3 receivers — from an inter-state vehicle theft syndicate.
10 stolen vehicles recovered, including two Hyundai Creta , two Maruti Baleno , two Maruti Swift , one WagonR , one i20 , one Exter , and one motorcycle.
Seized: 18 pairs of fake number plates , 21 remote/duplicate keys , OBD scanners , drill machines, and lock-breaking tools.
First arrest made on 3 February 2026 near Munirka ; suspect Asim alias Hasim alias Diwana , 35, of Meerut, UP , was caught in a stolen Hyundai Creta.
Operation led to detection of 10 FIRs across 8 police stations in Delhi.
Delhi Police's Anti-Auto Theft Squad (AATS), South-West District, has dismantled a sophisticated inter-state vehicle theft syndicate, arresting eight accused — including five active thieves and three receivers of stolen vehicles — and recovering 10 stolen vehicles along with an arsenal of theft tools. The operation, carried out in multiple phases beginning 3 February 2026, cracked open a network that had been preying on car owners across Delhi-NCR.
How the Operation Unfolded
Acting on specific intelligence, a dedicated AATS team laid a trap near Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka on 3 February at approximately 7:00 am. A Hyundai Creta approaching from Aruna Asif Ali Road was flagged down, but the driver attempted to flee at speed. Officers used barricades to intercept the vehicle and apprehended the driver, identified as Asim alias Hasim alias Diwana, 35, a resident of Meerut, Uttar Pradesh.
The Creta was found bearing fake registration plates; cross-verification confirmed it had been reported stolen under E-FIR No. 000493/2026 at Police Station Model Town, Delhi. FIR No. 44/2026 dated 3 February was subsequently registered at Police Station Kishangarh under Sections 317(2) and 345(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Gang Members Arrested
Sustained interrogation and follow-up investigation led to the arrest of six additional accused: Riyazuddin, Kuldeep Verma, Arif, and Satish Kumar Pal as active thieves, and receivers Fajar, Mehmood Khan, and Ujer Qureshi. The gang operated across state lines, sourcing vehicles from various parts of Delhi-NCR and either reselling them under forged identities and fake registration numbers or dismantling them for spare parts through receiver associates.
Weapons of the Trade: Tools and Vehicles Seized
Police recovered 10 stolen vehicles in total: two Hyundai Creta cars, two Maruti Baleno cars, two Maruti Swift cars, one Maruti WagonR, one Hyundai i20, one Hyundai Exter, and one motorcycle. Alongside the vehicles, investigators seized 18 pairs of fake number plates and 21 remote keys used to create duplicate vehicle keys.
The haul also included two tool kits containing one OBD scanner, two screwdrivers, two drill machines, two LN keys, and one door lock set — equipment used to bypass modern vehicle security systems without triggering alarms.
Scale of the Crime Network
The operation resulted in the detection of 10 FIRs across multiple police stations, including Model Town, Amar Colony, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Mehrauli, Punjabi Bagh, North Avenue, Prashant Vihar, and K.N. Katju Marg. The geographic spread of these cases underscores the syndicate's reach across the capital.
The team was led by Inspector Ram Kumar, In-charge AATS/SWD, under the supervision of Sanghamitra, ACP/Operations, South-West District, with field personnel including Sub-Inspector Ram Pratap, ASI Praveen Kumar, and several head constables and constables. Further investigation is ongoing, according to police.
Point of View
Inter-state operation with a built-in disposal network. What stands out is the receiver layer: without Fajar, Mehmood Khan, and Ujer Qureshi absorbing and reselling stolen stock, the thieves would have had no exit route. Delhi Police's detection of 10 FIRs across eight stations also raises a question mainstream coverage will skip: how long was this network active before a single Creta stop on Baba Gangnath Marg unravelled it?
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
How did Delhi Police bust the inter-state vehicle theft gang?
Delhi Police's Anti-Auto Theft Squad laid a trap near Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka on 3 February 2026, intercepting a stolen Hyundai Creta with fake number plates. The driver's arrest led investigators to the wider syndicate, resulting in eight total arrests across multiple follow-up operations.
How many vehicles were recovered and what types?
A total of 10 stolen vehicles were recovered — nine cars and one motorcycle. These included two Hyundai Creta, two Maruti Baleno, two Maruti Swift, one Maruti WagonR, one Hyundai i20, and one Hyundai Exter.
What tools did the vehicle theft gang use?
The gang used OBD scanners, duplicate remote keys, drill machines, LN keys, and door lock sets to bypass modern vehicle security systems. Police also recovered 18 pairs of fake number plates used to disguise stolen vehicles.
Who are the accused arrested in the Delhi car theft case?
The eight accused are Asim alias Hasim alias Diwana (Meerut, UP), Riyazuddin, Kuldeep Verma, Arif, and Satish Kumar Pal as active thieves, and Fajar, Mehmood Khan, and Ujer Qureshi as receivers of stolen vehicles.
How many FIRs were detected as part of this operation?
The operation led to the detection of 10 FIRs across eight Delhi police stations, including Model Town, Amar Colony, Hazrat Nizamuddin, Mehrauli, Punjabi Bagh, North Avenue, Prashant Vihar, and K.N. Katju Marg.
