Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: The state-level vigilance squad has busted a racket involved in stealing liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) directly from tankers. The squad conducted a raid near Hotel Sai Yash at Khojewadi Shivar on Vaijapur Road in Gangapur taluka of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district on Thursday night and arrested two persons who were directly stealing LPG and filling commercial and domestic gas cylinders. The squad has seized two capsule tankers of LPG and five filled cylinders, all worth ₹1.26 crore. A case has been registered at Waluj MIDC Police Station.
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The Controller of Civil Supplies and head of the vigilance squad, Chandrakant Dange, received confidential information about the LPG theft racket. Accordingly, a raid was conducted at Khojewadi Shivar in Gangapur taluka on Thursday evening.
When the squad arrived near Sai Yash Hotel, they found two persons standing near the HP company tankers. They had broken the seal of the tankers and were refilling gas. The squad immediately arrested the accused.
The squad seized two tankers (MH43K 5921) and (MH43 CK 5747) carrying 35,220 kg of gas each, along with 26 cylinders, including 19.2 kg commercial and 14.2 kg capacity cylinders. The total cost of the seized material is around ₹1.26 crore.
Amid the LPG scarcity, the action against the thieves is considered a major breakthrough against the black marketing of LPG cylinders. Dange said the gas seized during the operation would suffice the needs of around 2,480 families for a month. He added that such illegal activities deprive consumers of their rightful supply.
A case has been registered at Waluj MIDC Police Station, and further investigation is underway to determine the extent of the racket. The action against illegal activities will continue in a similar manner, Dange said.
