Now You See The Number Plate, Now You Don’t: Luxury Car’s Clever Trick Gets Rs 4,500 Fine | Mumbai-news News
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A luxury car’s number plate was filmed disappearing on the Pune-Mumbai highway. The RTO later removed the mechanism and imposed a Rs 4,500 fine
The incident has raised concerns about whether the matter should have been investigated further instead of being closed after the modified mechanism was removed and a fine was collected. (X@VaradBhatkhande)
A shocking video of a luxury car travelling on the Pune-Mumbai highway has raised questions over vehicle number-plate tampering and enforcement by the transport authorities. The incident took place on September 8, when the car was travelling on the highway and its number plate suddenly disappeared.
According to the video circulating on social media, the driver appears to activate a mechanical system from inside the vehicle, causing the number plate to fold or retract and become invisible within seconds.
The entire incident was reportedly captured by a motorist travelling behind the car. The video subsequently went viral on social media, prompting the Pimpri-Chinchwad Regional Transport Office (RTO) to trace the vehicle.
RTO Tracks Down Car, Removes Modified Number Plate
Following the circulation of the video, the Pimpri-Chinchwad RTO’s flying squad launched a search for the vehicle. On Tuesday afternoon, officials located the car and removed the modified mechanical number-plate system.
The RTO also imposed a Rs 4,500 fine on the vehicle.
According to officials, the vehicle owner claimed that the mechanism had been installed to avoid e-challans issued against the vehicle. “The owner has said that he did this to avoid the e-challan fine imposed on the vehicle. The patrol team has collected a fine of Rs 4,500 and removed the mechanical number plate,” an official said.
Why Was The Driver Let Off With A Fine?
The action has now raised questions about whether a monetary penalty was sufficient in a case involving a deliberately concealed number plate. A number plate is a key means of identifying a vehicle on the road. If it can be electronically or mechanically concealed while the vehicle is moving, it can make it difficult for enforcement agencies, CCTV systems and other road users to identify the vehicle.
The incident has therefore raised concerns about whether the matter should have been investigated further instead of being closed after the modified mechanism was removed and a fine was collected.
Questions have also been raised over whether the vehicle had previously been involved in any traffic offence, accident or other incident while its number plate was concealed.
Why Concealing A Number Plate Raises Bigger Concerns
The issue goes beyond avoiding e-challans. If a vehicle’s registration number can be made to disappear at the push of a button or through a mechanical system, it could potentially make enforcement significantly harder.
Such technology could prevent automated cameras from recording the vehicle’s registration number and make it more difficult to trace the vehicle after an accident or other offence.
This is why the incident has triggered questions about what further checks were carried out after the vehicle was traced.
Driver’s Identity Not Revealed
Another point that has attracted attention is the decision not to disclose the identity of the suspected driver. While authorities may have reasons for withholding a person’s identity during an investigation, the lack of clarity over whether a police complaint or separate case was registered has added to questions surrounding the incident.
The key issue now is whether the case was treated simply as a vehicle-rule violation or whether authorities examined the possibility that deliberately concealing the number plate could have wider implications.
Rs 4,500 Fine Ends The Matter?
For now, the RTO’s action has ended with the mechanical number plate being removed and a Rs 4,500 penalty being collected.
But the episode has left motorists asking whether the enforcement response would have been the same if an ordinary vehicle had been found with a mechanism designed to hide its registration number.
The viral video has already put the incident in the public domain. The bigger question is whether removing the device and collecting a fine is enough, or whether authorities should also establish why the vehicle had such a mechanism, how long it had been used and whether the concealed number plate was linked to any previous offence.
Quick Answers
Ask News18The Pimpri-Chinchwad RTO’s flying squad tracked down the vehicle, removed the modified mechanical number-plate system, and imposed a Rs 4,500 fine on the owner. The owner claimed the mechanism was installed to avoid e-challans.
Ask News18September 10, 2026, 19:20 IST
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