Bengaluru, May 1 (IANS): Owners of vehicles seized amid the lockdown in the city have been spared from court appearance but will have to pay a penalty and execute a bond to free their vehicles, a top police official said on Friday.

"High Court of Karnataka has simplified the entire process of waiving court attendance and approved faster disposable of vehicles at police station," tweeted Bengaluru Police Commissioner Bhaskar Rao.

Had the Court not spared the owners of 48,510 vehicles, Rao said all of them would have been compelled to attend some court for re-possessing their cars, bikes and three-wheelers, compromising physical distancing amid the Covid pandemic.

"Two and three-wheelers Rs 500 and four-wheelers Rs 1,000. Bond not to repeat. Please pay challan at a bank and take your vehicle," said Rao detailing the fines.

The commissioner said the police department requested the Court to simplify the release procedure for the vehicles impounded under the National Disaster Management Act.

Inspector General of Police Hemant Nimbalkar said the bond will be executed under CrPc Section 102 (3) at the respective police stations.