Panipat. While conducting a routine traffic sweep on Hathwala Road, police officers identified two white Maruti cars that were masquerading as official government vehicles. The probe led to a father‑son duo being charged for attaching counterfeit number plates and government‑style markings.

Anonymous tip sparks a focused inspection

Traffic Zone In‑charge Satish Kumar explained that officers were patrolling near the Hathwala Road bridge on October 4 when they received a tip about a vehicle roaming the city with a government‑type registration. The team moved to a lane behind the SFC Hotel and spotted a white Maruti Ertiga bearing the words Government of India in red on its rear bumper.

Close by, another white Maruti Ciaz was parked. Its trunk displayed similar text – “Government of India” and “PBSM Ministry” – and both automobiles carried plates that mimicked authentic government identifiers.

Registration numbers failed to match official data

When the numbers were entered into the challan database, no corresponding records were found. At that point, a man named Rajbir stepped forward, claiming ownership of both cars, but he could not produce the original registration certificates.

Police then verified the chassis numbers. The check revealed that the Ertiga was actually registered to Rahul, a resident of Krishna Colony, while the Ciaz was registered in Rajbir’s name.

Clear signs of tampering

Both vehicles were equipped with sirens, and the altered plates along with the government‑styled decals were clearly intended to convey an official status. Investigators noted that Rahul had removed the Ertiga’s genuine plate and replaced it with a fabricated one, and Rajbir had done the same with his Ciaz.

A case has been filed against the father‑son pair, and the two Maruti cars have been seized by the authorities. The investigation remains ongoing to uncover the source of the counterfeit plates and to determine whether any further misuse took place.