Cops to crack down on petrol pumps stealing fuel
By Express News Service | Published: 16th December 2017 03:03 AM |
Last Updated: 16th December 2017 07:02 AM | A+A A- |
BHUBANESWAR: Following allegations of petrol pumps stealing fuel using electronic gadgets at petrol pumps across the State, Odisha Police on Friday took steps to check the malpractice and bring the accused to books.
As per intelligence inputs, some petrol pump retailers in the State are hand-in-glove with the miscreants and are installing micro-chips, remote censors and other electronic gadgets at fuel stations for manipulating calibration system of dispensing pumps, leading to losses for the consumers.
To check the illegal practice of manipulation in fuel quantity, Odisha DGP Dr RP Sharma has directed the SPs of all districts and DCPs of the Twin City to conduct checks at the petrol pumps and take necessary action. The DGP also instructed the cops to register cases under appropriate Sections of IPC and Orissa Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act, if they notice any trickery at the petrol pumps.
Sharma also pitched for robust coordination between police and officials of civil supplies and legal metrology (weights and measures) departments for conducting joint verification of such matters. The SPs and DCPs have been instructed to submit a monthly report to CID, CB, of the enforcement activities carried out at the petrol pumps here.
In June 2017, Thane Crime Branch had busted a racket involved in installing hi-tech electronic chips at the fuel stations which dispensed less fuel than what the customers were being charged for.
Later, officials of oil marketing companies, technicians and local police had also carried out raids at two petrol pumps in Sambalpur district in August. One Dambarudhar Lalman Mohanto was arrested in connection with the case. Mohanto had reportedly told the police that he tampered with the equipment at about 90 petrol pumps in State. The scam was first busted in Uttar Pradesh in April this year.
Police said, the electronic chips help in dispensing five to seven per cent less fuel to every customer due to which the petrol pump owners make huge profits.
