Curious Case Of Sotiganj, Meerut's Infamous Automobile Parts Market, Where Cars Stolen In Delhi End Up As Scrap

Ever wondered where the two-wheelers and four-wheelers stolen in Delhi end up? Take a drive to the hinterlands of Uttar Pradesh. And you will see where your vehicles are going.

Often referred to as "mortuary of cars", Sotiganj, an infamous automobile parts market in the Meerut district of western Uttar Pradesh, is a hub for stolen cars.

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The cars stolen from National Capital Region (NCR) are likely to end up at Sotiganj. There are hundreds of contractors or middlemen active in Sotiganj who purchase stolen cars and bring them to the market. Thieves get in touch with these contractors who talk to Sotiganj godown owners. All the parties involved, then, arrive at a number.

After they agree on a particular number, the car will then be taken to a godown as instructed by the contractor, where a group of automobile mechanics will strip the vehicle within minutes. All the body parts are shipped to various shops and all that remains at the godown is the body.

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Last year in May, a Sedan was stolen from a parking lot in Chandni Chowk and reached Sotiganj automobile scrap market in three hours. In just 15 minutes after that, the car was ripped out, its good parts kept aside to be sold at the shops and some ¡°transplanted¡± into another sedan at the market, The Times of India reported.

For decades, one family had a complete hold on the highly profitable car breaking business in Meerut. But in October, 70-year-old Galla, whose actual name is Haji Naeem, and his four sons surrendered after days of raid and surveillance by UP police. His properties amounting to Rs 10 crore were seized, however, security agencies feel it's just the tip of the iceberg.

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¡°We cannot give a figure at this point as to how much Galla is worth, but there are still a number of properties like shops in Sotiganj Market and a 1,200 sq yard land in Cantt area which are not under his name, but we believe belong to him. We are looking at his benami properties as well," additional superintendent of police Suraj Rai, who is spearheading the investigation, told TOI.

Rai said Galla has more than 30 cases filed against him including murder. He and his four sons were booked under section 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property, 414 (voluntarily assisting concealing or disposing of stolen property), 420 (cheating) apart from the Gangster Act in September. Galla was also slapped with the NSA Act and the Gunda Act earlier.

According to a report in TOI, Galla started his life as a small-time motor mechanic and went on to lead a well-oiled syndicate comprising auto-lifters, vehicle scrappers and mechanics capable of dismantling a car within minutes.

¡°He entered the illegal business in the late 90s and came to own it. Several vehicles that disappeared from Delhi and NCR every year ended up in Sotiganj. At least 40% of the 300 shops in the Sotiganj market are said to be under his control,¡± a police source told the outlet.