Rolls Royces Originally Owned By Amitabh Bachchan And Aamir Khan In Big Trouble: We Explain

In a notable enforcement move, a Bengaluru-based businessman received over 38 lakh rupees in fine, for defaulting on the payment of road tax for two luxury cars. The scrap dealer-turned-billionaire Yousuf Shariff has been using two Rolls-Royce cars in Bengaluru- a Ghost and a Phantom, without paying the 'required' road tax. More interestingly, both vehicles have had celebrities as their previous owners. The Phantom was bought from Amitabh Bachchan and the Ghost from Aamir Khan.

Both these Rolls-Royce cars have MH registration plates and were not re-registered for use in Bengaluru. The Phantom has a number plate that reads 'MH 02 BB 0002' while the Ghost has one that reads 'MH 11-AX-0001'. A quick search of the registration details reveals that the Phantom still has Amitabh Bachchan as its owner!

Looking at the split, the businessman was fined Rs 19.83 lakh for the Ghost and 18.53 lakh for the Phantom. The cumulative figure is around Rs 38.36 lakh.

The Phantom is at least 17 years old, while the Ghost is 15 years. Shariff bought the Phantom in 2021. The Ghost was procured in 2023. These continued to operate within Bengaluru with MH plates, and the required (state-level) road tax wasn't paid. The billionaire was reportedly notified several times about the same, but no proper action followed. Reports also say that in 2021, field staff from the RTO even impounded the Phantom, citing the violation. The vehicle was later released, allegedly due to the intervention of higher-ups in the department. The businessman, however, had to pay a fine of Rs 5,500.

The Yelahanka RTO reportedly issued multiple notices to Shariff, citing the violation. Officials told Deccan Herald that the billionaire did not respond to these, and claimed that he was in Mumbai and the cars were being used there.

The RTO, however, found out that both Rolls Royces were being used in Bengaluru and the same triggered action. Officials visited Shariff's residence in Vasanthnagar and inspected his garage. The officials could then confirm that both vehicles were being used in Bengaluru.

They briefed Shariff about the state's rules and answered all his queries. He was then asked to pay the tax and its fine. The billionaire reportedly paid the same through Demand Draft (DD).

Addressing the media, Yusuf Shariff said that he has a passion for collecting cars used by celebrities. He further explained that he had already paid lifetime road tax for these cars in Maharashtra, which amounted to Rs 50 lakh for one and 35 lakh for the other. Shariff says he wasn't aware that he would have be taxed again in Karnataka. He runs a business in Mumbai and the vehicles, he says, are registered to his office address there. They operate for 15 days in Mumbai and the rest in Karnataka.

As per the rules in Karnataka, vehicles from other states (or registered in other states) must pay road tax if they are being used in Karnataka for over a year. Many luxury car owners tend to evade these duties. The state RTO has recently been very strict in enforcing the law. In previous crackdowns, we saw the Transport Department seizing several vehicles for alleged tax evasion.

Circling back, Yusuf Shariff is originally from Kolar Gold Fields (KGF) and is often fondly called 'KGF Babu' for his rise to wealth and power. He isn't just a successful businessman, but has a commendable poilitical career as well. He had contested the Karnataka Legislative Council election in 2021 and assembly election in 2023. He is known ton have assets worth over Rs 1,744 crore.