'E Bull Jetters': MVD took similar actions against vehicle modification in the past too

The 'E Bull Jet' brothers made headlines after they were arrested for creating a ruckus at the Kannur RTO office. Following this, the court ruled that the duo has to pay a fine of Rs 3,500 each for destroying public property. The MVD also went a step further and decided to cancel the Registration Certificate of their modified vehicle 'Napoleon'.

However, this is not the first time Kerala Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) had strongly enforced the law. In September last year, a Isuzu D-Max V-Cross (car) named ‘Chekuthan’ was similarly found to have made 20 modifications. The Muvattupuzha RTO slapped a fine of Rs 48,000 after observing the modifications on the vehicle. The RC of the vehicle was also cancelled for six months. 

Following the 2019 Supreme Court ruling, which states that vehicles registered under Section 52(1) of the Motor Vehicle Act should comply with the original specifications of the manufacturer, the Kerala MVD initiated an operation codenamed ‘Operation Freaken' to trace modified vehicles in the state. Several notices were issued to the owners of the modified vehicles across the state. 

Modification of vehicles includes all the changes that are illegally added to a vehicle other than the features registered in the RC. Silencers (exhausts) in two-wheelers and oversized tyres in four-wheelers are some of the most common illegal alterations. Also, the replacement of silencers with catalytic converters directly violates pollution control norms set under the new law.  

The fine was also raised to Rs 5,000 for each alteration under the Motor Vehicles (Amendment) Act 2019. Despite these stringent rules and hefty fines, the number of vehicles levied for illegal modifications continues to rise. According to the reports, more than 8,000 modified vehicles have been identified by the MVD in the period 2020-21. 

In the case of 'E Bull Jet' brothers, the events unfolded after a video shared by the brothers boasted about their caravan ‘Napoleon’ claiming it was modified for Rs 2 crore. They went further to say that no one can make them pay tax.

However, the video caught the attention of the Motor Vehicle Commissioner who ordered it to be seized. Moreover, the brothers had made a public announcement that they would be going to the MVD office in Kannur. Due to a large fan base, a lot of people gathered around the MVD office.

At the MVD office in Kannur, the brothers went live and alleged that the officials were harassing them, and soon police arrived and intervened. The duo was arrested for disrupting the functioning of a government office and also for threatening the staff on duty. 

Later, a large section of youngsters across the state voiced their opinion on social media and threatened that ‘Kerala will burn’ because of the arrest. Then they went a step further and openly used abusive remarks on social media and posted threatening messages against the MVD and other government handles. However, a large section of society criticised the ruckus created by the vloggers and questioned their motives. 

Their case is now registered under six sections, including section 353 and section 3 (1) of the Prevention of Destruction of Public Property Act, along with IPC 341 for withholding officers from carrying out their duties, IPC 506 for allegedly making threats against MVD officials, IPC 443 (Lurking House Trespass) and a fine of ₹5,000 under the Infectious Diseases Control Act of the Kerala Police Act.