Rewa Police Auctions 39 Unclaimed Bikes for ₹85,000 Amid Transparency Row

The auction of 39 unclaimed motorcycles at Rewa's Civil Line police station drew only four bidders and sparked controversy over procedure, with advocates questioning the process and the condition of vehicles sold.

The Auction

Thirty-nine motorcycles that had been lying unclaimed within the Civil Line police station premises in Rewa were auctioned off on Friday in a proceeding that has since become the talk of the city. The bidding opened at ₹43,000 and closed at ₹85,000, with the winning bid placed by one Lakhan Bansal. Only four individuals participated in the entire process.

Vehicles on the Block

The list of auctioned two-wheelers raised eyebrows across the district. Among the models put up for sale were Hero Honda CD Deluxe, Hero HF Deluxe, Hero Honda Splendor, Honda Activa, TVS Apache 160 CC, and Bajaj Discover — bikes that residents note are neither obsolete nor scrap-grade by common reckoning. The question doing the rounds: if these were "condemned" vehicles, what would good-condition ones look like?

Questions Over Condition

Advocate B.K. Mala has raised pointed objections both about the physical state of the motorcycles and about how the auction was conducted. According to him, at least 10 of the vehicles auctioned were in reasonably good shape, with some belonging to relatively recent model years. He has further alleged that the event received insufficient publicity, which he says directly limited the number of potential buyers and, consequently, the final amount realised.

"Nearly 10 bikes were in decent condition, including some new models. The auction was not adequately publicised, which kept participation low," — Advocate B.K. Mala, as per reports from the ground.

Police Push Back

Station in-charge Vijay Singh rejected the allegations outright. He maintained that each of the 39 motorcycles had been declared condemned after remaining unclaimed for an extended period, and that the auction was conducted strictly in accordance with established police rules and procedures. Officials have indicated that all required documentation and approvals were in order before the process commenced.

Public Reaction

Residents of Rewa appear divided on the matter. A section of the public views the transaction as a straightforward government disposal of dead stock at whatever the market would bear. Another section, however, is pressing for greater clarity on how the vehicles were certified as scrap and whether wider advertising would have fetched a considerably higher price for state coffers.

Procedural Scrutiny

The controversy has drawn attention to how unclaimed vehicles accumulate at police stations across Madhya Pradesh and the method by which their disposal is eventually authorised. Sources indicated that such auctions are not uncommon, but seldom attract public notice unless the models involved are recognisable or the bid amount appears disproportionately low relative to market value. The Rewa case has broken that pattern of quiet disposal.

What Comes Next

As of now, no formal complaint has been filed with senior police officials or the district administration, though legal observers have not ruled out further escalation if the advocate's concerns go unaddressed. The broader question — whether police station auction procedures across the state require tighter oversight and more transparent publicity norms — is likely to find renewed discussion in local government circles following this episode.