Forty-four vehicles have been recovered in Ballari, Karnataka, in connection with a major car rental scam where a man allegedly rented over 100 cars and sold them at low prices without returning them to their owners.
Ballari SP Shobharani stated that “Mohammad Zahid Basha alias Sonu, who rented cars and later sold them at throwaway prices, is absconding, and a search is underway.” Basha, a resident of Sindhanur, reportedly took around 103 vehicles on rent, each for about ₹50,000 per month, before cheating the owners by selling or mortgaging the cars.
The accused is said to have targeted individuals and firms from Koppal and Raichur, including banks, construction companies, and wind farms. Multiple cases have been registered against him at Ballari’s Cowl Bazaar, Bruce Pet, Gandhinagar, and APMC police stations.
According to police, Basha not only failed to return the vehicles but also defaulted on rental payments. The recovered cars were traced using GPS and have been handed back to their rightful owners.
SP Shobharani has urged those who bought the cars cheaply from the accused to return them, warning that failure to do so will result in legal action. “Possessing stolen goods is also a crime,” she cautioned, adding that cases will be filed against such buyers.