In a shocking revelation, 900 car engines have reportedly gone missing from the Kia Motors manufacturing plant located in Penukonda, Sri Sathya Sai district of Andhra Pradesh. The incident, which is believed to have occurred over a period of time, was formally brought to light after the Kia management lodged a complaint with the local police on March 19.
The complaint, filed by company officials, clearly states that nearly 900 engines—each valued in lakhs of rupees—are unaccounted for from the plant’s inventory. Sources indicate that internal audits raised red flags about discrepancies in the engine stock, prompting a detailed verification process which ultimately uncovered the large-scale disappearance.
While the exact timeline of the theft remains unclear, police officials suspect a coordinated effort involving internal staff or external handlers with access to the facility. Given the scale of the loss, the police have registered a case and initiated a thorough investigation into possible lapses in security and inventory management.
Officials are also examining CCTV footage and access logs from the factory premises, and questioning logistics and warehouse staff to uncover how the engines were removed without detection. The matter has caused a stir in industrial and political circles, raising questions about security in one of the state’s most high-profile industrial units.
The Kia plant in Penukonda is one of the largest automobile manufacturing facilities in South India, and this incident marks one of the most significant thefts in the region in recent memory. Authorities are under pressure to crack the case quickly and ensure such lapses do not recur.
