Visakhapatnam Police Return 538 Seized Vehicles to Owners
In a citizen-centric initiative aimed at simplifying the process of reclaiming seized vehicles, the Visakhapatnam City Police on Tuesday returned 538 vehicles to their rightful owners during the sixth edition of the Vehicle Return Mela, held at the Police Barracks.
The vehicles, which had been seized in connection with various law and order, traffic and criminal cases, were handed over after the completion of all legal and procedural formalities.
Addressing the gathering, Commissioner of Police Shankhabrata Bagchi said the initiative was launched to address the difficulties faced by vehicle owners in recovering seized vehicles through the conventional legal process. He noted that, in many cases, owners were unable to complete the necessary court procedures due to procedural delays and other practical constraints, resulting in the vehicles remaining parked at police stations for months or even years.
“The prolonged detention of vehicles not only causes inconvenience to their owners but also leads to deterioration and a significant decline in their value,” Bagchi said. To address the issue, the city police introduced the Vehicle Return Mela to facilitate the return of seized vehicles, free of cost, after all statutory procedures had been completed, he added.
According to the Commissioner, the Visakhapatnam City Police have returned a total of 2,120 vehicles to their owners across six editions of the programme, reflecting the department’s efforts to improve public service delivery while ensuring that seized property is restored to its rightful owners without unnecessary delay.
Police officials said the initiative has also helped reduce the number of seized vehicles lying idle in police station premises while streamlining the process of returning property in accordance with legal provisions.
Beneficiaries expressed their gratitude to the city police, saying the initiative had made the process of reclaiming their vehicles quicker, more transparent and hassle-free.