Petroleum dealers have urged oil companies to take responsibility for fuel sent out from terminals, after a video of fuel being apparently stolen from a fuel truck on the roadside in Tondiarpet went viral on social media.

The incident is said to have taken place on Saturday. The video shows a couple of men filling large-sized cans with fuel from the truck. Tondiarpet in north Chennai has terminals of oil companies from where fuel is sent to dealer outlets.

Tamil Nadu Petroleum Dealers’ Association president K.P. Murali said dealers often complained that such pilferage was not uncommon and that steps must be taken to prevent it. “We want oil companies and the Civil Supplies Department to ensure that this does not happen. Most times the GPS fixed on vehicles don’t seem to work, neither do the electronic locks,” he said.

Usually, when there is a loss during transit and if a dealer complains, the oil company deducts the amount from the truck driver and pays the dealer. However, police complaints are not preferred after such incidents of theft, unless an accident happens.

“There is a big mafia outside every oil terminal. There have been many incidents of theft, but despite being taken to the notice of the police, no action has been taken. Drivers are paid close to nothing and asked to get money from the dealer. I used to pay ₹300-400 per load just to ensure that the entire load comes to the outlet,” said a dealer, who did not want to be named. K. Vijayan, CITU Oil and Gas Workers’ Union president, said though the responsibility was technically with the truck drivers, most times the thefts happened due to oil company officials joining hands with other agencies and making a quick buck. “When that fails, or someone gets caught, the driver is blamed,” he said.

Oil industry sources said information about the incident had already been passed on to the Civil Supplies CID wing and to the police.