Bengaluru: A scooter that went missing during a relocation from Bengaluru to Patna has resurfaced through a traffic challan. The complainant said his Suzuki Swish 125, handed over to a logistics service provider in 2023, never reached him. Recently, he found a traffic challan issued on the same vehicle that revealed an unidentified person using it. The victim has filed an online complaint with police.According to the complaint filed by Abhishek Kumar Jha, 32, a software engineer residing in Darbhanga, Bihar, with HAL police on April 29, his scooter (Suzuki Swish) bearing registration number KA-04-JB-7719 was lost during transit. “I shifted from Bengaluru to Pune in 2021. While shifting, I left my scooter at my friend’s house in AECS Layout in Kundalahalli. I wanted my scooter for my own use and searched for logistics services online. I found a mobile number impersonating a well-known logistics company in the state (VRL),” Abhishek told TOI.When Abhishek contacted the number, a person collected the details of the scooter, including the registration card (RC) and address. Little did Abhishek know that he was in contact with a crook. The impersonator gave another number, and a person collected the details of the scooter’s location. Once shared, a person went and picked up the scooter on Jan 4, 2023. “I suspected something fishy when I didn’t get an invoice after collecting the scooter for transportation charges. I reached out to the numbers I used to book the transit to return the scooter, claiming I had changed my plans. Initially, they claimed the scooter would be handed over at police station, and later they kept giving excuses. Then I searched the number on the internet and found reviews written by people stating they are fraudsters and, after collecting money from people, they extort more money,” Abhishek said.Abhishek immediately tweeted about the fraud. Police suggested he file a complaint at the jurisdictional police station, but since he was in Pune, he was unable to lodge a complaint.Recently, he checked for traffic violations of his scooter and found a challan. The fine, dated Sept 27, 2025, was for a pillion rider not wearing a helmet on Varthur Road. “I got to know about the option of filing a complaint online and followed the same,” Abhishek said.Based on Abhishek’s complaint, HAL police have registered a case under IPC Section 379 (punishment for theft). A senior officer said, “We have requested the complainant to appear at police station with documents relating to relocation, records of the transportation logistics, reasons why the vehicle has not reached him, along with the vehicle documents. Further investigation is under way.”
