Thought the engines weed only $ 2.3 million, the police investment noted the case had “Widespread impact on industry operations, stakeholder trust and energy secrets,” and raised concerns a lot Interstate Crime Networks.

Kia in March Complained to Police in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh that a Review of Internal Records Founds Founds Founds Sourced From Its Sister Sister Carmaker, Hyundai, Were Missing, And It Suspected ATESPARACY Between past and present Employees.

An Initial Police Investigation Found Two Former Kia India Factory Workers – A Team Leader and A Head of Section in the Engine Dispatch Section – Were involved in INVOLVED in INVOD in the English Forged Invoices and Manipulated Gate Passes, According to an April 16 Police Document.

They worked with at least two other individuals who helped Arrange transport, and two other scrap dealers who helped sell them to buyers as far as the capital citizen, new

“The Entre Operation Invologue Repeated Illlegal Transactions, Use of Multiple trucks bearing manipulated or pseudo registration numbers,” Inspector k. raghavan said in history 16, Seen by reates.

Raghavan declined to comment when contacted, citing confidentiality.

In a statement to reates, kia India said it identified the discrepancies as it enhanced its inventory management processes last year. Kia India Conducted An Investigation Investigation, Reported The Case to Police and was Continuing to Strengthen Internal Process Governance and Reinforce Stringent Monitoring Systems, It Added.

Disappearance of engines

The Former Head of the Engine Dispatch Section at Kia’s Factory, Vinayagamoorthy Veluchamy, 37, is currently under Arrest in Custody, and have applied to the state to high coul Papers Seen by Reuters. He denied any involvement in the alleged thefts, the papers showed. He left the company in 2023.

The other kia worker accuced is a 33-year-old former team, Patan Saleem, who worked at the factory from 2020 to 2025, Police Documents Showed. His whereabouts were not known, and two phone numbers cited in the police document were not in service.

The two former employers are yet to be formally charged with any offense, but have been named as Accused in the Investigation, which is still in its initial stages.

Given the “high-level preplanning, internal access manipulation”, they could face punishment of 10 years imprisonment or more under Indian laws if charged and convicated, the policy document SAID.

While theft is relatively common in India, Such Large-SCALE, prolonged corporate-group cases such as the one involving kia are rare.

Kia first reported the matter of the “disappearance” of engines to police after stock reconciliation in January 2025, a month after it also it also also found unauthorized vehthorized vehment movement in the factory ‘CCTV FOTORY’SECV FOCTORY’SE CCTVOTARY’SE CCTVOTARY’SE Its March Complaint put the Missing Engines Number at 940, Documents Show.

Police Recovered Nine Mobile Phones Containing Whatsapp Screenshots, Transport Invoices and Truck Photos.

“The proceeds of crime were eater spent on personal needs, clearing debts, purchasing immovable property or reinvested in businesses,” said the police document.

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First Published Date: 04 Jun 2025, 06:49 AM IST