Pickup Truck Looted Under the Pretense of a Toll-Saving Shortcut; Gang Dismantles Vehicle in Forest

Barwani, Madhya Pradesh: Barwani’s Varla police have cracked a sensational case of vehicle robbery carried out under the guise of giving a lift. Three assailants, who picked up a driver from Nasik en route to Sendhwa, convinced him to take a forested route to save toll charges. They then beat him and stole his brand-new pickup truck, later dismantling it in the jungle. Police have arrested three suspects and recovered parts of the stolen vehicle.

Lure of a ₹200 Lift
According to SDOP Sendhwa Ajay Waghmare, the victim, 37-year-old Udalsingh Chaudhary of Mavai, Jalaun district (Uttar Pradesh), filed a complaint on February 2. Chaudhary stated that on January 31, he was driving his new Max pickup truck from Kandivali Nyagaon, Mumbai, to Varanasi. Near Nasik, he gave a lift to three unknown young men at ₹200 per person, intending to drop them off at Sendhwa.

Shortcut to Toll Avoidance Leads to Attack
The suspects persuaded Chaudhary to take an alternative route via Palasner (MP–Maharashtra border) under the pretext of avoiding tolls, eventually turning toward the Solwan–Malwan route in Varla police jurisdiction. Near Imli Ghati bridge, they called another accomplice and collectively assaulted Chaudhary, stealing his pickup and mobile phone before fleeing the scene.

Dismantled Pickup Found in Forest
Following the incident, a special police team led by Varla SHO Narayan Rawal, with support from the Barwani–Sendhwa cyber cell, collected technical evidence. The stolen pickup was later found in a damaged state atop a hill in Wakya village forest area. Several parts, including tires, the steering wheel, battery, and headlights, were missing.

Informer Tips Lead to Arrests
Acting on an informant’s tip, police detained Sagar More of Mohala village. During interrogation, he confessed and named his accomplices Khajan, Sunil, Nihal, and Ravindra. Subsequently, Sagar, Khajan, and Sunil were arrested, and police recovered parts of the stolen vehicle, a mobile phone, and another pickup used in the crime.

Plans to Reuse Vehicle Parts
SHO Narayan Rawal said that Sagar already owned a similar vehicle and intended to use parts from the stolen truck for his own. The suspects had also attempted to steal the engine but failed. All three arrested accused are aged 20–21 and residents of Mohala village, Sendhwa rural area. Police continue to search for the remaining fugitives, Nihal and Ravindra.