Meerut: Yogi Government's Crackdown On Auto-Theft Syndicate Head Haji Galla, Properties Worth Crores Seized

The Yogi Adityanath government in Uttar Pradesh has now cracked its whip on Haji Galla, alias Haji Naeem, who is said to be the kingpin of Meerut’s auto-theft syndicate. In a recent development, the Meerut Police was all set to seize an illegally-occupied Defence Ministry bungalow worth Rs 10 crore, which was being used as a warehouse to cut vehicles of theft by Galla’s gang.

Haji Galla of Sotiganj, Meerut, imprisoned for the charges of looting and robbing stolen vehicles had illegally occupied Bungalow No. 235 of the Defence Estates Department on West End Road in Meerut Cantt and erected a warehouse on it to dismantle the vehicles.The Defence Estates Officer has lodged an FIR against Galla and his sons at the Sadar Bazar police station.

Galla had built this godown ten years ago and has been using it since then for the purpose of warehousing and dismantling stolen vehicles. Interestingly, police have raided this warehouse several times in the past and recovered engines and components of stolen luxury vehicles. However, it is surprising as to why no concrete action has been taken so far against the auto-theft syndicate.

Defence Estate Officer Harendra Singh informed that the Bungalow No. 235 of West End Road is registered in the name of Ram Ratan Kapahi and others under Old Grant. The land belongs to the Ministry of Defence but a huge chunk of it has been illegally occupied by Haji Galla and his sons. This is in clear violation of the terms of the Old Grant. The bungalow can neither be bought nor be divided into parts, and no further construction can be done on it without seeking prior permission from the Defence Estate Department.

Meanwhile, the police report has also confirmed illegal dismantling of vehicles in this bungalow by Galla and his sons. The Sadar Bazar police have registered a case under sections 406, 427 and 448 of the IPC and section-3 of the ‘Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act’. The police have completed the documentation to confiscate the illegally occupied property worth ten crores. The Defence Ministry has also initiated its investigation into the matter.

In its investigation, the SIT found that Galla has acquired immense properties in the last 20 years from the car scrapping business. In more shady revelations, the police have marked Galla’s properties worth Rs 100 crore in Punjab. While Galla’s business was centred in Delhi-NCR, he has been operating from Punjab since the last five years. The police found that most engines from stolen vehicles were supplied to Punjab, where Galla has made his recent fortunes.

Earlier, in the month of October, the Meerut police had seized Haji Galla’s luxurious bungalow worth Rs 4 crore 10 lakh, two residences and a warehouse on the order of the District Magistrate. Moreover, his eight big shops were also seized and all his bank accounts were frozen.

In addition to this, the Uttar Pradesh government has launched an investigation into 32 junkyards in Meerut’s Sotiganj Kabadi Bazar which are believed to be associated with Galla and his sons. Following Galla’s surrender, the Meerut police has since then kept secret vigil on these locations and hence the success in seizing his unnamed properties. The police found that Galla and his sons have illegally made property worth about Rs 48 billion.

As per this report, the Meerut police has registered cases against 65 scrap dealers under the Gangster Act, and the Goonda Act has been invoked on as many as 120 notorious scrap dealers. A SIT has been constituted to investigate the car breaking business in Meerut.