Day after car with ‘Punjab government’ sticker is seized in Delhi, police official says it had fake number plate 

The police are now trying to ascertain the registration number and ownership of the car based on its chassis and engine numbers.

The car had been found parked at Copernicus Marg near Punjab Bhawan in central Delhi. A case has been registered under the relevant sections at the Tilak Marg police station, an official said, adding that the police are also checking CCTV footage from the area and questioning locals.

In a statement issued on Thursday, a day after AAP had termed the vehicle seizure a “planted stunt”, the Punjab government said the “apprehended vehicle does not belong to the Punjab Government at all”.

“It has come to the knowledge of the Department of Transport (Punjab Government), that a vehicle carrying registration number PB35AE1342 has been apprehended in Delhi carrying illegal liquor and some unaccounted cash. It has been alleged in the media reports that the vehicle has a sticker of Punjab Government on it,” the statement read.

“As per official record, it is found that the vehicle is registered in the name of Maj. Anubhav Shivpuri who was posted in Army Dental College, Pathankot 3 years back and is a permanent resident of Khadki, Maharashtra,” it added.

“Moreover, the registered vehicle model on the registration number  PB35AE1342 is Ford Eco Sport of make year 2018 but the actual vehicle apprehended by the police belongs to the Hyundai Creta series. This confirms that the vehicle’s number plate is forged and fake,” it stated.