Chennai police arrested a serving constable and two others after they were allegedly caught trying to remove two-wheelers seized for traffic offences and criminal cases from the Thoraipakkam police station, DT Next reported.
The arrested constable was identified as Velmurugan. His alleged accomplices were identified as Muthupandi, 25, of Thoraipakkam and Zakir Hussain, 20, of Neelankarai. The arrests were made by the Thoraipakkam police on Wednesday night.
According to officials cited in the report, the group arrived at the station in a load vehicle and attempted to take away seized two-wheelers kept on the premises. Police personnel at the station intercepted them during the attempt and arrested all three.
Velmurugan had previously served at the Thoraipakkam police station before being transferred to the Adyar police station a few months ago. Investigators said he used his familiarity with the station and knowledge of the vehicles stored there to facilitate the alleged theft attempt.
The vehicles involved had been seized by the Adyar police in connection with traffic offences and criminal cases. Such vehicles remain in police custody while the related legal and administrative processes continue, making their storage and accounting part of the station’s operational responsibilities.
During the subsequent investigation, police found that Velmurugan and the same two alleged accomplices were also involved in the theft of six two-wheelers in August, when the constable was posted at the Thoraipakkam police station, officials said. The report did not provide details of the cases registered, the recovery status of the vehicles or the next steps in the investigation.
The arrests bring attention to the security and record-keeping challenges surrounding vehicles seized by police in urban areas. Stations must retain custody of vehicles linked to offences and traffic violations, often within limited premises, until the cases reach the appropriate legal or administrative stage. The alleged involvement of a serving constable who had previously worked at the station has also raised a specific question about how access to seized property is monitored when personnel are transferred.
The Thoraipakkam police are continuing their investigation into the attempted removal and the alleged theft of six two-wheelers in August. Further details on the cases and action against the accused were not available in the report.
