This is the second time in a week wherein vehicles parked in a housing society were targeted; police have arrested a youth in connection with the first incident
In yet another incident targeting vehicles parked in a housing society in a week, 10 vehicles including three four-wheelers were set on fire by unidentified persons in a Pimpri society, in the wee hours of Wednesday.
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The incident came to light, when BPO employee Vijay Kale (27), a resident of Sant Tukaramnagar lodged a complaint with Pimpri police station against unidentified persons, under Section 435 of Indian Penal Code — mischief by fire or explosive substance with intent to cause damage. No arrest has been made yet. On October 25, some 14 vehicles, including five cars, were damaged at Kothrud. Police say they have arrested one person in this regard.
Kale said, “Owners of four wheelers in our society, including me, park them near Jijamata Sanskruti Bhavan. On Tuesday around 9 pm, I had checked my car, a Chevrolet Beat, and came home. I had covered it with a plastic sheet. We had planned to use it on the weekend to travel to our native place.
Around 12.30 am, our family was planning the trip when neighbours said that my car had been set ablaze. I rushed to the spot. Another car parked nearby and my friend’s bike were also set ablaze.” He added, “This is not the first time our cars were set on fire. About two months ago, my neighbour’s car and another vehicle were torched and their glasses were broken.
Later we went to the police station to register a complaint and when we returned, two other society members claimed that after 30 minutes their vehicles were also set ablaze. My car’s bonnet has been completely damaged and I will have to spend Rs 70,000 on it.”
Sub-inspector Sachin Nikam of Pimpri police station who is investigating the case said, “The vehicles which were set on fire were mostly covered by plastic sheets. We are trying to get the CCTV footage from the area. We will arrest the culprit.”
On October 25, the glasses of about 14 vehicles including three cars, seven two wheelers, a school bus, a tempo and two autorickshaws were found broken at Gita Park society in Kothrud. Suryakant Kamble inspector in-charge of Kothrud police station said, “In this regard we have arrested a youth and the damage was done over the fallout of an argument between two groups from the area.”
Lawyer speak
Lawyer Hrishikesh Ganu said, “The damages to the vehicle can be claimed by the insured depending on the type of insurance policy. The vehicle claims are categorised as Own Damage Claims.
The insured is entitled to claim own damage claim under Package Policy (previously Comprehensive Policy). The said claims are settled subject to Policy Terms and Conditions. The estimated damages are normally assessed by an authorised showroom or authorised surveyor.”
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