Bengaluru RTO Hits Luxury Car Owner with ₹38.36 Lakh Fine for Dodging State Taxes

Jul, 29 2025

Big Names, Flashy Cars, and a Hidden Tax Bill

Bengaluru’s transport department just handed out a massive ₹38.36 lakh fine, shining a spotlight on a much bigger problem: luxury car owners trying to skirt local road taxes. At the center of it all is Yusuf Sharif, better known as KGF Babu—a realtor and politician with a taste for ultra-exclusive cars. The twist? His two Rolls-Royce beauties, which once belonged to Bollywood icons Amitabh Bachchan and Aamir Khan, weren't just for show. These Maharashtra-registered rides were clocking serious miles around Bengaluru, all while dodging Karnataka’s hefty road taxes.

The cars in question are a Rolls-Royce Phantom and a Ghost, both with a high-profile past and a future that led straight to this legal headache. The Phantom, purchased from Amitabh Bachchan, has reportedly been in use since 2021. The Ghost, acquired from Aamir Khan, rolled onto Bengaluru streets in 2023. State rules are strict: if you drive an out-of-state car in Karnataka for more than a year, you have to pay a local road tax—which can be astronomical for luxury cars like these.

Lenient Start, Tough Finish

This saga didn’t start quietly. Back in 2021, transport officials impounded one of the Rolls-Royces (with the flashy number MH 02 BB 0002) after clocking its continued use in the city. Yet, to the surprise of many, the car was released with only a ₹5,500 fine. Rumor had it, senior officials pulled a few strings. Junior RTO staff didn’t agree and continued to push for more serious action. Their persistence has finally paid off years later.

Fast forward to July 2025, and the RTO arrived at KGF Babu’s Vasanthnagar residence packed with fresh ammunition: CCTV clips showing the cars on Bengaluru roads, and records proving their extended stay. Under the microscope, the evidence was undeniable. Both cars had blown past the 12-month grace period set by Karnataka law. The numbers say it all—₹19.83 lakh slapped on the Phantom, and ₹18.53 lakh on the Ghost, making up the full penalty now demanded from Sharif.

This tough response didn’t come out of nowhere. Bengaluru has watched a rising trend of folks buying supercars and skipping out on local dues. In fact, a similar Ferrari case hit headlines not too long ago, also for dodging the enormous road tax bill. The message from authorities is getting clearer: no matter how exotic your garage is, the rules still apply. These latest fines are setting new ground, signaling that glitzy wheels can’t outrun the law’s reach indefinitely.