Former Kia India Employees Under Investigation for Large-Scale Engine Theft: Reuters

Two former employees of Kia India are currently under investigation for allegedly orchestrating the theft of 1,008 engines from the company's manufacturing facility over a three-year period, according to police investigation documents obtained by Reuters.

The stolen engines, valued at approximately $2.3 million, were sourced from Hyundai, Kia's sister company. While the monetary value may seem relatively modest, police investigators have noted that the case has had "widespread impact on industrial operations, stakeholder trust and employment security," as reported by Reuters. The investigation has also raised significant concerns about inter-state criminal networks operating within India's industrial sector.

According to Reuters' review of police documents, the theft operation involved sophisticated coordination between multiple parties. The two primary suspects - a former team leader and a former head of section from Kia's engine dispatch department - allegedly used forged invoices and manipulated gate passes to illegally transport engines from the factory premises.

Inspector K. Raghavan's April 16 investigation document, seen by Reuters, revealed that "the entire operation involved repeated illegal transactions, use of multiple trucks bearing manipulated or pseudo registration numbers." The scheme extended beyond the factory walls, involving at least two additional individuals who arranged transportation and two scrap dealers who facilitated sales to buyers as distant as New Delhi.

Vinayagamoorthy Veluchamy, 37, the former head of the engine dispatch section, is currently in custody and has applied for bail to the state High Court, according to court papers reviewed by Reuters. The documents show that he has denied any involvement in the alleged thefts. Veluchamy left Kia India in 2023.

Patan Saleem, 33, worked as a team leader at the factory from 2020 to 2025, police documents indicate. Reuters reports that his current whereabouts are unknown, and two phone numbers listed in police documents are no longer in service.

Neither individual has been formally charged with any offense at this time, though both have been named as accused parties in the ongoing investigation, which remains in its preliminary stages.

The theft came to light when Kia India enhanced its inventory management processes in 2024, according to a statement provided to Reuters. The company first reported the "disappearance" of engines to police following a stock reconciliation conducted in January 2025. This discovery came one month after the company also identified unauthorized vehicle movement through CCTV footage analysis.

Kia India's March complaint to police initially reported 940 missing engines, though the final count reached 1,008, as documented by Reuters. The company filed its complaint with police in the southern state of Andhra Pradesh after an internal review revealed the missing engines.

In its statement to Reuters, Kia India confirmed that it "identified the discrepancies as it enhanced its inventory management processes last year" and has been working to "strengthen internal process governance and reinforce stringent monitoring systems."

Police investigators have recovered substantial evidence, including nine mobile phones containing WhatsApp screenshots, transport invoices, and photographs of trucks used in the operation, Reuters reports.

The police investigation document indicates that "the proceeds of crime were either spent on personal needs, clearing debts, purchasing immovable property or reinvested in businesses."

Given what investigators describe as "high-level preplanning, internal access manipulation," the accused individuals could face imprisonment of 10 years or more under Indian law if formally charged and convicted, according to the police document reviewed by Reuters.

Reuters notes that while theft is relatively common in India, large-scale, prolonged corporate-level cases such as this Kia investigation are rare. The case highlights vulnerabilities in industrial security systems and the potential for insider threats in manufacturing operations.

The investigation continues as authorities work to uncover the full extent of the criminal network and recover any remaining stolen property.