HC asks Mumbai police to return luxury cars seized for violating ban

The Bombay High Court on Thursday directed the city police to return 41 luxury cars seized from the BKC area for allegedly violating the ban. The seized cars include models from Porsche, Mercedes, Ferrari, Audi, Lamborghini, Jaguar and BMW.

A division bench of Justices Anuja Prabhudessai and Nitin Borkar was hearing a petition filed by some car owners seeking return of the cars and cancellation of the first information registered by the police Report because the conduct violates legal process. The FIR claimed that an order banning gatherings of five or more people between January 23 and February 2 was issued ahead of Republic Day.

The cars were to take part in a rally organized by an event management company to celebrate Republic Day from Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) to Mumbai Cross-Port Link and back. At least 100 cars were expected to attend the event, but no permits were granted and police said this was in breach of a prohibition order, so police took pre-emptive action and seized the cars before the rally began.

The FIR was registered against the owners and organizers under Section 188 (willful disobedience of order issued by public servant) and related sections of the Maharashtra Police Act, 1951.

Car owners claim police used heavy-handed tactics and failed to inform them about the banning order or the gathering being held without a permit. The court, in an interim order passed on Thursday, directed the police to return the impounded cars to their owners and said it would hear the petitioners for quashing of the FIR in due course.

(This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from associated news agency – PTI)