The State Vigilance Squad of the Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Protection Department busted an illegal gas and diesel theft racket on the Gujarat–Dhule highway after maintaining secret surveillance for two days.
During the operation, officials seized property worth approximately Rs 1.56 crore, including a Bharat Petroleum LPG tanker, an HP diesel tanker, 140 commercial gas cylinders and other equipment.
Three accused caught red-handed
Three accused were caught red-handed in the operation, which was conducted near Dahivel village in Sakri taluka of Dhule district, behind Annapurna Dhaba and adjacent to Parshwanath Dhaba on the Surat–Dhule highway.
Acting on intelligence inputs, the vigilance team kept the area under surveillance for two days before raiding the site while fuel was allegedly being siphoned illegally from gas and diesel tankers.
LPG tanker, diesel tanker and cylinders seized
During the raid, officials seized an LPG tanker bearing registration number GJ-06-AZ-4430 travelling from Gujarat to Jalgaon, carrying 17.42 metric tonnes of LPG. They also seized a diesel tanker bearing registration number GJ-12-BZ-7999 carrying 35 kilolitres of diesel.
In addition, a Bolero pickup vehicle, a small truck, 130 commercial gas cylinders, gas-filling equipment, weighing scales and drums containing stored diesel were confiscated.
Seized goods worth Rs 1.56 crore
The seized material included the LPG tanker and gas stock, the diesel tanker and diesel stock, the Bolero pickup, the small truck, commercial gas cylinders, gas-filling nozzles, weighing scales and other related equipment.
Officials estimated the total value of the seized goods at approximately Rs 1.56 crore.
Vigilance squad leads operation
The operation was carried out by members of the State Vigilance Squad, including Deependra Parulekar, Amol Burte, Pawan Kumble, Ravindra Rathod, Rajesh Sorte, Rahul Ingale, Devanand Ingale and Rajiv Bhele.
Officials said the bust is considered one of the largest recent crackdowns on illegal fuel and gas theft in the region. Further legal action against the accused is underway.
Khar police bust illegal LPG refilling racket, 40 cylinders seized
Earlier in June, the Khar police busted an illegal LPG refilling and black marketing racket and booked a 32-year-old man accused of being involved in the operation. The accused was identified as Kaluram Beniwal, 32, who worked for a private gas agency, said police, adding that he fled the spot following the raid.
Police said that they received information about the racket from Lok Kalyan Grahak Sanrakshan Sanstha, a consumer protection organisation based in Dadar West.
The incident
On May 28, at around 10 am, police received information about someone refilling LPG cylinders inside a tempo in Khar West. When police reached the spot, representatives of Lok Kalyan Grahak Sanrakshan Sanstha, Krishna Londhe and Ganesh Kale, informed them about the suspicious activities.
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