Penukonda: Six nabbed in connection with theft of 900 Kia engines

Six Arrested in Penukonda for Stealing 900 Kia Engines Worth Crores

Police in Penukonda have busted a major theft racket, arresting six people in connection with the disappearance of 900 Kia car engines from a local manufacturing plant. The stolen engines, valued at several crores, were allegedly smuggled out over several months before authorities unraveled the operation.  

The investigation began after Kia Motors India reported inconsistencies in its inventory records at the Penukonda facility. A special police team, reviewing CCTV footage and shipment documents, traced the missing engines to a warehouse in Anantapur. Among those arrested are two former Kia employees who allegedly exploited security gaps to move the engines under the cover of legitimate shipments. The stolen parts were then sold to unauthorized dealers across South India.  

So far, authorities have recovered 150 engines and are working to track down the rest. Police officials confirmed that the arrested individuals include logistics handlers and middlemen, with more suspects under watch. Kia India has since tightened security measures and launched an internal audit to prevent future breaches.  

This case sheds light on rising industrial theft in Andhra Pradesh’s automotive sector, prompting calls for stricter surveillance and regular audits to safeguard against such crimes.