Ferrari seized in Bengaluru over massive road tax default, owner clears dues worth ₹1.41 crore following RTO crackdown
by Utsav RoyA striking red Ferrari SF90 Stradale, among the most premium sports cars recently seen on Bengaluru’s roads, was impounded on Thursday by transport officials for failing to pay road tax in Karnataka.
As per reports, the exotic vehicle, originally registered in Maharashtra, carries a base price tag of ₹7.5 crore. It had become a familiar sight on city streets, catching the eye of both automobile aficionados and law enforcement officers. Based on a tip-off, personnel from the Bengaluru South Regional Transport Office (RTO) traced the car, verified its registration details, and confirmed tax non-compliance.
Once it was established that the mandatory Karnataka road tax hadn’t been settled, authorities seized the vehicle and served a notice to its owner. The notice demanded full payment of dues by Thursday evening and warned of legal proceedings for non-payment.
Responding swiftly, the owner cleared an outstanding amount of ₹1,41,59,041, which included the due tax and related penalties. Transport officials noted that this amount represents one of the largest tax recoveries from a single vehicle in recent memory.
This enforcement move is part of a larger crackdown launched by Karnataka’s transport department earlier this year. Back in February, authorities seized 30 high-end vehicles in Bengaluru for similar offenses, chiefly, using out-of-state registrations to avoid paying local taxes.
Transport inspectors have been particularly vigilant at weekend meetups and exotic car rallies, where many out-of-state luxury vehicles are showcased. These events have proven valuable in identifying tax-dodging owners.
Officials have reiterated that Karnataka’s motor vehicle laws require all vehicles regularly operating within the state to be re-registered locally, with the appropriate road tax paid, regardless of where they were originally registered.