Three members of the gang were arrested today and seven stolen cars seized, Deputy Superintendent of Police (CID) A K Teli told the press here. Explaining the modus operandi, he said they used to fabricate documents including no-objection certificates from the Regional Transport Office of the original registration and then register the vehicles in Goa before selling them at a cheaper rate.

The three arrested were Manoranjan Oza and Lal Bahadur Gupta of Bihar and Sunil Kumar Yadav from Uttar Pradesh.

The state police investigated the case following directives from the Central Bureau of Investigation after they were tipped off by an anonymous letter, Teli said.

Police believe the gang has been operating since the last three years and had stolen 300 to 350 cars, of which 60 to 70 were sold in Goa.