Madhav Nagar police claimed to have busted a large-scale bike theft racket on Monday, arresting seven suspects and recovering 24 stolen bikes from their possession. The investigation began after a complainant reported the theft of his bike on January 27 in front of the Jain temple, Freeganj, at midnight. The thief had broken the handle lock to steal the vehicle.
A case under Section 303(2) of BNS was registered, and a dedicated team led by TI Rakesh Bharti was formed to investigate the incident. With the help of informers, CCTV footage from the crime scene was reviewed, and vehicle-checking operations were initiated across the police station areas.
During these checks, the team stopped several suspicious drivers. When the suspects failed to provide valid vehicle documentation or explanations, they were detained and interrogated based on technical evidence. One of the suspects confessed to stealing a bike from the Jain temple, and the stolen vehicle was seized.
Further interrogation revealed that the gang had committed thefts in various locations across Ujjain, including Ingoria, Tarana, and Jharda police stations. They had also targeted neighboring districts such as Dewas, Agar-Malwa, Shajapur, Ratlam, and Indore, alongside three accomplices and a juvenile offender.
The gang primarily targeted two-wheelers parked outside public places or residences. They used to break the locks, tamper with the wiring, and start the bikes without keys. The stolen bikes were driven through secluded city roads and countryside areas. The thieves also altered the registration number, engine number, and chassis number before either using the vehicles themselves or selling them cheaply in nearby areas.
The arrested suspects include Anil (22), Mahendra (20), Jagdish (20), Savin (21), Sitaram (50), Birendra (28), and a 17-year-old juvenile, all from Rulki, Shajapur. The accused are habitual offenders, and police are continuing their investigation to uncover more stolen vehicles linked to the gang.
