From Kangra to neighbouring states: Cops uncover vehicle scam’s network

In a major breakthrough, Dehra police have recovered 15 missing vehicles using GPS tracking, technical surveillance and an extensive intelligence network — uncovering a large-scale vehicle fraud that had been silently unfolding across various parts of Kangra district since 2023.

The scam first came to light in January 2025 after Ajay Kumar filed a collective written complaint regarding 10 missing vehicles at the Lagru police post, under Khundian police station in the Jwalaji sub-division of Kangra district.

Following the FIR, Dehra SP Mayank Choudhary constituted a special investigation team (SIT) led by Jwalaji DSP RP Jaswal. During the investigation, it was discovered that the fraud extended beyond the original 10 vehicles, eventually involving 17 vehicles, of which 15 have now been recovered.

Rataneshwar Singh, the mastermind behind the firm ‘R Beez Car Rentals’ from Chalali village, was arrested on April 2, 2025, and subsequently sent to judicial custody. However, two of his accomplices, Parveen from Amritsar and Gurvinder from Chandigarh, remain at large. Currently, the main accused, Rataneshwar, is out on bail granted by the court of the Additional Sessions Judge, Dehra.

Encouraged by the success of the investigation, similar complaints have now emerged from Hamirpur, Bhawarna, Dharamsala, Baijnath, Nagrota Bagwan and other parts of the state, revealing the widespread reach of this first-of-its-kind scam in Himachal Pradesh.

Police revealed that the accused lured individuals into buying new vehicles, promising lucrative returns by leasing them to government offices. After making a few initial payments, the accused would secretly sell the vehicles in neighbouring states — often at half the original cost — while keeping the owners in the dark, as he had exclusive access to the cars.

The swift action by the Dehra police has rekindled hope among dozens of victims. Neeraj Sharma of Raja Ka Talab in Nurpur, one of the many affected, remains optimistic that his missing Thar will soon be recovered.

Speaking to The Tribune, the SP said: “Out of 17 vehicles, 15 have been recovered. The investigation is ongoing and we are hopeful the remaining two will also be traced. A team led by ASI Raman of the Lagru police post is following up on solid leads to locate the remaining vehicles.”