After MiD DAY reported yesterday that a Lexus, which is under the scanner of the Mumbai police's Economic Offences Wing in the illegal car racket scandal is owned by a Thane politician, the Crime Branch has launched a massive search for the vehicle. The car has been untraceable since last evening.u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0u00a0

Joint Commissioner of Police (Crime) Rakesh Maria confirmed that a high-level inquiry had been launched to track the missing Lexus. A team of EOW officers has been deployed to carry out a search operation in Thane and the adjoining areas, he said.

Insiders informed that the Lexus was seen parked outside the residence of a Thane politician in Samta Nagar till
2 pm yesterday. EOW's Additional Commissioner Sanjay Saxena said that the Lexus could be one of the 37 cars on their watch list. The Lexus, which was sold to the politician by a gangster, has been registered as a Maruti Esteem with the Thane RTO.