The public auction of seized vehicles, currently dumped in the compound of various police stations in the city, is proving to be a herculean task for the police.
Though public notices have been issued several times to sell off the vehicles, most of the buyers have been found withdrawing from the scene on seeing the totally rusty and scrap-like stuff.
The reserve price fixed by the police for each of such vehicle, too, is a curious factor for many, as it is higher than that of the price charged by private vehicle scrap dealers.
Market price
Even for a five-year-old rusty vehicle, the department calculates the market price based on the vehicle’s condition when it was seized.
“The main reason is that there is very little chance for repairing such a rusty vehicle remaining in police custody for over four or five years. Even if someone succeeds in repairing the vehicle, he will have to cross a lot of hurdles to get the papers from the Motor Vehicles Department and renew the insurance cover paying a huge sum,” says a mechanic from the city.
He also adds that the fitness of such vehicle will also be unpredictable.
A police officer attached to the Traffic wing says that the department does not have adequate facilities to keep the seized vehicles in good condition till they are handed over to the owner or some other buyer.
Legal procedures
“In all possible situations, we right away release the seized vehicles to the owners after completing the mandatory legal procedures. Only in serious crimes, we withhold the vehicles and move them to the yard,” he says.
Disinterest
Police officials also claim that the owners are reluctant to take back vehicles seized in connection with various cases, since the resale value will be less.
The backyard of the city traffic station has several such vehicles, where the owners are disinterested to take them back.
According to police officials, the immediate disposal of seized vehicles through public auctioning, too, is a difficult task when a legal battle is going on in the court.
