Several people have landed in trouble as they found their cars, which were entrusted to a private park and sale firm in Aluva, were seized by the police following an investigation into allegations of financial fraud committed by the owners of the firm.

At least 15 vehicles, handed over to the showroom Numeriz Cars Kerala for sale, were seized by the Aluva police as one of the proprietors of the firm was arrested recently. The car owners have now started moving the court to get their vehicles released.

Though the police arrested Anoop P. Joseph, a co-owner of the used car showroom, based on a complaint filed by a native of Kadungalloor near Aluva, several people have filed complaints against the owners of the firm alleging financial fraud, the police said.

According to the first information report (FIR) registered by the police earlier this month, Anoop allegedly cheated the complainant of ₹1,60,000 by paying him only ₹24,000 after selling off his car on December 19, 2024.

The complainant alleged that the accused cheated him by not closing the loan with the money he received from the sale as promised. Anoop, who is charged with criminal breach of trust and cheating, was arrested and remanded by the First Class Magistrate Court, Aluva. The co-founder of the showroom, Libin O.M. of Asokapuram, Aluva, is absconding, the police said.

The police sources said a few people have accused the duo of fraud and cheating. "The main complaint is that they have sold off several cars without informing the owners. They managed to keep the owners away from the deals by not transferring the ownership to the new buyer even after a year since the resale. The plan was to delay the payment to the owners as long as possible. In such cases, the accused managed to convince the vehicle owners that they were yet to find buyers," a police officer said.

The owners of the seized cars can approach the court with valid registration certificates and get the vehicles released. Many of them have already got their vehicles released," the officer said.

'Park and sale fraud' in Aluva lands several car owners in trouble