Fine imposed on caravans brought to shooting location in Kochi

KOCHI: The Motor Vehicle Department (MVD) confiscated and slapped fine for three luxurious caravans brought to a shooting location in Kochi. They were brought for a noted Malayalam actor and a south Indian actress. The vehicle was seized from a shooting location in Kochi and a fine of Rs 2 lakh was slapped. A fine of Rs1.50 lakh was slapped for changing the 19-seater private van into a caravan illegally. An amount of Rs 40,000 was charged from another person for bringing the caravan permitted to use only in Tamil Nadu, to Kerala. Rs 10, 000 was imposed on another person for renting the vehicle unlawfully.

The officials of the MVD reached the location following secret information that illegal caravans are being used for the shooting of a film progressing at Kakkanad in Kochi. The vehicle registered as private van was changed to a caravan with luxurious amenities like bedroom, kitchen, toilet etc. The renovation was done after removing the seats and it is a crime under the Motor Vehicle Act.

The second vehicle registered in Tamil Nadu was brought to Kerala. Tax was imposed on this vehicle as it is illegal to rent the vehicle of other state registration, in Kerala. Though the records of the third vehicle was accurate, it is a crime to rent the vehicle of private registration.

Caravans brought in a similar manner in Kochi had been confiscated earlier also. Even stars having own caravans use ones arranged by producers at shooting locations. The film fraternity’s stand is that as there are many procedures to register caravans in Kerala, caravans of other states are brought to the state using fake registration.