In a significant breakthrough, police in Andhra Pradesh’s Anantapur district have arrested nine individuals for their involvement in the theft of 940 Kia car engines from the Kia Motors manufacturing unit located in Erramanchi village, Penugonda Mandal. The massive heist, which came to light on March 19, sent shockwaves across the state’s industrial sector due to the sheer scale and precision of the operation. The accused were produced before the Penugonda court and have been remanded to 14-day judicial custody. Authorities confirmed that they were booked under several sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita, India’s revised criminal law code.
According to officials, the prime suspect, identified as Vinayakan Muthi, is a resident of Tamil Nadu. His close associate, Salim, hails from Punganur in Chittoor district, Andhra Pradesh. The remaining six individuals—all from Tamil Nadu—allegedly assisted the duo in executing the large-scale theft. The group is believed to have meticulously planned and carried out the crime over a period of time, exploiting insider knowledge and factory logistics. The case gained traction after the Kia plant management filed a complaint on March 19, alerting local police to a significant discrepancy in inventory. A detailed investigation, including CCTV footage analysis, employee access audits, and logistics data, led to the swift identification and arrest of the culprits.
Police have since recovered a substantial number of the stolen engines, valued at several lakhs of rupees. The theft reportedly involved transporting the engines covertly out of the factory premises over multiple instances, likely using unauthorized vehicle access and falsified documentation. Sources indicate that family members of the accused from Tamil Nadu visited the Penugonda police station following news of the arrests, seeking updates and legal assistance. The high-profile theft has raised concerns over the security protocols at industrial units, especially large-scale facilities like the Kia Motors plant, which are often targeted for their high-value inventory. Authorities have suggested a possible internal lapse or collaboration that allowed the gang to repeatedly remove valuable parts without immediate detection.
This isn’t the first time Andhra Pradesh has witnessed large-scale thefts targeting valuable tech-related goods. In February, the Vijayawada police arrested a six-member gang from Uttar Pradesh for stealing Rs 2.51 crore worth of iPhones and laptops from a warehouse in Enikepadu, Vijayawada. That gang, reportedly led by an individual named Ranjit, had been operating in the region for an extended period and was known for executing high-tech thefts using sophisticated tools and planning. The similarities between both incidents highlight a growing trend of organized inter-state crime networks targeting warehouses, manufacturing units, and logistics hubs across Andhra Pradesh. These incidents underscore the need for improved security, better surveillance, and tighter control over inventory movement within such facilities.
Police continue to probe the full extent of the Kia engine theft network, including whether there were any internal accomplices, buyers waiting to receive the stolen goods, or links to a broader automotive black market. Officials have assured that further arrests may follow based on the evidence and leads uncovered during interrogation. The case has also prompted state authorities to advise manufacturing units across Andhra Pradesh to re-evaluate their internal security systems and tighten access to high-value components. As investigations continue, the Kia engine theft is shaping up to be one of the largest organized robberies in the state’s recent industrial history, shedding light on the vulnerabilities in supply chain security and the evolving sophistication of criminal networks operating across state lines.
