Cops Book Car Owner And Shop That Modified Mercedes Benz SUV In Hyderabad

Vehicle modification is illegal in India, yet several car owners can’t help but modify their vehicles to their liking. This often gets them into trouble as cops stop them and issue challans. In the past, we have come across several incidents where car owners have claimed that the reason they modify their vehicles is that such modifications are freely available in the market. Some have even questioned the authorities for not taking action against shops that sell such accessories. Hyderabad police took this seriously and recently filed a case against the owner of a Mercedes-Benz and the shop that modified the vehicle.

As per a report in The Hindu, the Jubilee Hills Traffic Police came across a modified Mercedes-Benz luxury SUV during their routine checks. The incident happened on February 11, 2025. The report mentions that the owner of the Mercedes-Benz, Mr. Sujeet Vasanth, was in the car with his driver.

The vehicle was being driven in a rash and negligent manner. When the officers on duty spotted the vehicle, they were forced to stop it. Upon inspection, the team found that the colour of the Mercedes SUV was different from the one mentioned on the registration certificate. The owner had wrapped the vehicle in a colour-changing wrap, while the original colour of the SUV was white.

The officers found that the car had been modified without prior approval. The Sub-Inspector at Jubilee Hills Police Station said, “We have booked a case against the owner of the car and The Wrap Team [which modified the car], located on Road Number 12 in Banjara Hills.”

While we have seen cops take action against car owners for illegal modifications on several occasions, this is the first time we have seen them move against the shop that carried out the illegal modification.

The car owner, Sujeet, and the modification workshop have been charged under Section 182A(1) of the MV Act. Under this section, offenders are penalised for unauthorised alterations to vehicle colour, with a punishment of up to one year in prison, a fine of up to ₹1 lakh, or both.

A representative of The Wrap Team said, “I was not aware of the law and was counselled by the police. Sujeet had claimed that he wanted to do it for a fashion photoshoot. I told the police that our company is in the [vehicle] detailing business, and I was informed that it was for a brand promotion. The applied film was provided by Sujeet. He is a friend’s friend, so I obliged. The Sub-Inspector told me he was driving rashly and that the number plate was not as per the rules.”

In India, many states allow you to change the colour of your vehicle. However, the owner should get the colour endorsed on the registration certificate to avoid any issues with the authorities in the future. In this case, the car was actually wrapped.

The original colour of the car was covered with a plastic film of a different colour. If your wrap is the same colour as the original vehicle, it is unlikely to cause much trouble. However, if it is a very loud or entirely different colour, it is always a good idea to get approval from the authorities. There is still a lot of confusion regarding vehicle wraps, and we hope that the authorities clarify the rules soon to prevent further confusions.