In a recent verdict, the Bombay High Court has directed the Bandra Kurla Complex (BKC) police to release 31 high-end and sports cars that were seized during a Republic Day rally on January 26. The court stated that the police action lacked sufficient legal basis, emphasizing that the FIR was registered after the luxury cars, including Ferraris and Lamborghinis, were impounded.
Lawyer Aabad Ponda, representing the car owners, argued that the FIR seemed like an afterthought, initiated after a verbal altercation between the police and one of the car owners. Ponda pointed out discrepancies in the notices issued by the police, initially citing improper documentation and later connecting the impoundment to unauthorized modifications to the cars.
The court seemed to share these concerns, questioning why prior notices were not issued to the car owners regarding their vehicles.
Despite this, the government defended the police action, asserting that the assembly of people for the rally was illegal and citing security concerns related to Republic Day. The car owners, mainly businessmen residing in Bandra, Khar, and Andheri, along with the rally organizers, were booked under section 188 and relevant sections of the Maharashtra Police Act 1951.
