Inspector’s unique theft; robs police bike of parts

If you take a brand new motorbike and swap all of its parts right down to the engine and petrol tank with those of your 15-year-old motorbik...

If you take a brand new motorbike and swap all of its parts right down to the engine and petrol tank with those of your 15-year-old motorbike, is it still the same bike?

Inspector D.M. Bhangude of Bhandup police station seemed to think so. In the first case of its kind in Mumbai police history, he stands accused of stealing parts worth Rs 40,665 from a police motorbike and replacing them with those from his own 15-year-old bike.

In April, the Bhandup police station was issued a brand new Royal Enfield 350 cc Bullet motorcycle for beat patrols by constables. Despite having a two-year warranty, it had already broken down by May 26.

It was taken to the Motor Transport (MT) division in Ghatkopar for repairs where a senior officer, Ashok Achrekar, grew suspicious. Upon inspection of the bike, Achrekar found that most of its parts had been swapped with worn-out ones. Achrekar immediately informed the Motor Transport division’s deputy commissioner of police at Nagpada who later ordered an inquiry into the case.

It revealed that Bhangude had taken the police bike home and exchanged almost all of its parts, including the crank, engine, fuel tank, tyres, wheels, lights, and horn with those from his old Royal Enfield Bullet. A Royal Enfield representative estimated that the cost of the parts totalled Rs 40,665. A report was then sent to the Joint Commissioner of Police (Law and Order), Ahmad Javed.

Upon trying to contact Bhangude, it was learned that he had taken sick leave for a heart ailment and had been admitted to Dhanwantri Nursing Home in Mulund. ‘‘We are taking action against the officer,’’ Javed said. ‘‘He will be suspended soon and will be dealt with like an ordinary thief,’’ he added.