• Source:JND
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A bizarre sequence of events at the iconic Taj Mahal Palace Hotel in Mumbai today revealed a desperate act of fraud by a cab driver to escape financial woes. Around noon, two Maruti Suzuki Ertiga cars with identical yellow registration plates arrived at the hotel, sparking a security scare.

The Taj Mahal Palace Hotel, a sensitive location due to its history as a target during the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, is under constant surveillance by multiple security agencies. Upon noticing the identical number plates, one of the vehicle owners immediately alerted the police, who swiftly intervened.

Two Cars, One Number Plate

The two vehicles, both registered for commercial use, were tracked down and brought to the Colaba police station. Initial questioning of the drivers revealed an unusual and unexpected story.

Sakir Ali, the owner of one of the Ertiga SUVs, had been receiving frequent traffic challans and toll evasion notices for over six months. The fines puzzled him, as his car had never been in the locations mentioned in the notices. Ali even lodged a complaint with the traffic police, but no resolution was reached.

Earlier, Ali’s driver had spotted another car with the same registration number in Bandra and managed to take a photograph, but the vehicle couldn't be located again, until today.

At 11:30 AM, while dropping a passenger at the Taj, Ali spotted the duplicate car. He tried to stop it, but the driver sped off. Ali alerted the police, who intercepted the car and brought it to the station.

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The driver of the duplicate car admitted to altering the last digit of his registration number from '3' to '8'. He confessed that he was unable to pay his car loan EMIs and feared repossession by the loan recovery agents. In a desperate attempt to evade detection, he forged his number plate to match Ali's car.

Preliminary investigations have ruled out any security breach or malicious intent. “The accused altered the registration number to avoid his car being seized by a financial institution,” said a police statement. Authorities have registered a case against the driver and further investigation is underway.

While the incident turned out to be a case of financial fraud rather than a security threat, it underscores the heightened vigilance in sensitive areas like the Taj Mahal Palace Hotel.