Hyderabad Doctor's Ingenious BMW Modification Leads to Legal Trouble
In a startling discovery that seemed straight out of a spy thriller, Hyderabad traffic police recently apprehended a doctor driving a BMW equipped with a sophisticated mechanism to switch between two different number plates. The incident occurred during a routine drunk driving checkpoint in the upscale Jubilee Hills area, revealing what authorities suspect is an elaborate scheme to evade road taxes.
The James Bond-Style Discovery
The extraordinary feature came to light quite by accident after Dr. Gautham Reddy, the vehicle's owner, was stopped near Chiranjeevi Blood Bank on the night of April 10. When he tested positive for alcohol consumption well above the legal limit—recording a blood alcohol content of 137 mg against the permissible 30 mg/100 ml—police initially booked him only for driving under the influence.
"The driver refused to provide any details about himself or the vehicle," explained a police officer involved in the case. "So we had no choice but to seize the BMW and instruct him to report to the station the following day."
It was only when constables were examining the vehicle at the police station that the secret mechanism was accidentally activated. "A constable who was trying to unlock the boot accidentally pressed a button near the driver's seat," recounted N Ravinder, Inspector (Traffic) of Jubilee Hills. "Suddenly, a Delhi registration number dropped down to mask the Telangana number plate that was visible earlier."
Dual Registration Plates and Suspicious Motives
Further investigation revealed the BMW displayed both DL (Delhi) and TS (Telangana) registration numbers through this flipping mechanism. Police suspect Dr. Reddy purchased the vehicle in Delhi and installed the switching device to avoid paying road tax when transferring the car to Telangana.
"We immediately recognized this as a deliberate act of manipulation," Inspector Ravinder emphasized. "The matter was promptly escalated to the law and order police, who registered a formal case against the doctor."
When officers visited Dr. Reddy's residence in Gandhi Nagar, they made another surprising discovery: a second BMW bearing the exact same Telangana registration number that had been used as the "cover" plate on the seized vehicle.
"The Telangana number plate actually belongs to one of his family members," clarified U Srinivasulu Reddy, Inspector (Law and Order) for Jubilee Hills. "This appears to be part of an organized attempt to conceal the vehicle's true registration."
Online Inspiration and Legal Consequences
During questioning, Dr. Reddy reportedly admitted to learning about flipping number plate mechanisms through social media platforms. He then ordered the specialized device online and had it professionally installed at a car decor shop in Madhapur.
While the doctor attempted to downplay the modification as "a casual alteration done purely for fun," police remain unconvinced. "The timing and circumstances strongly suggest tax evasion as the primary motivation," noted Inspector Srinivasulu Reddy. "We are continuing our investigation into this matter."
Authorities have confirmed that, so far, no previous cases or traffic challans are pending against the seized BMW. However, Dr. Reddy now faces serious legal charges including:
- Cheating and criminal impersonation
- Violations of the Motor Vehicles Act related to drunk driving
- Potential charges for tax evasion and fraudulent registration
This unusual case highlights how technological modifications, when misused for illegal purposes, can lead to severe legal repercussions. The Hyderabad police have demonstrated particular vigilance in uncovering what might have otherwise remained a hidden violation of vehicle regulations.
