Kia India Lodged A Complaint With Penukonda Industrial Estate Police Station Regarding The Robbery Of 900 Engines
Kia Motors reported the theft of 900 engines from the brand’s manufacturing plant in Penukonda, Andhra Pradesh. The robbery took place over the last 5 years. It came to light on Tuesday, three weeks after the company found out about it. The brand, reportedly, understood it after the year-end audit conducted in March.
Preliminary Investigation
The preliminary investigation reveals that the engines were stolen in a calculated and phased manner. The police currently suspect that some insiders are involved. There is also the suspicion of connivance between former and present employees.
Kia is the first automobile plant to be set up in the backward region of Rayalaseema. It is generally known for its mass migration of labour and the desertification of land. Kia India MD and CEO Gwanggu Lee lodged a complaint with the Penukonda industrial estate police station on March 19, post which a case was registered.
The police have formed three special teams to investigate the case. The concerned teams are travelling across the country to gather records. Police officers initially suspected that the engines were stolen in transit, however, the preliminary investigation concluded that the engine was stolen from the plant after tampering with financial records.
Present Situation
Kia’s spokesperson has revealed that despite the theft, the output hasn’t been hindered. The plant rolls out 3 lakh to 4 lakh vehicle units annually, as per the demand. The investigation department is currently trying to understand the modus operandi, as it is unclear as of now. It is also difficult to understand how the engines, which are not small in size, were physically transported out of the manufacturing facilities.
