Police and enforcement units of the Motor Vehicles Department (MVD) have launched a comprehensive investigation into a series of fuel thefts reported from different parts of the state, in which vehicles with forged or duplicate number plates were allegedly used.
The latest incidents, including one reported last week by a petrol pump owner at Edavannappara in Malappuram district, are supported by CCTV footage and show a pattern of suspects using duplicate registration numbers to hide their identities.
According to gas station operators, several such incidents came to light when the original owners of the vehicles were contacted in attempts to track down suspects who fled without paying after filling up. The owners later approached the police and MVD squads after realizing that their registration numbers had been misused.
Published – 21 Apr 2026 0:22 IST
