A significant gas theft operation has been uncovered in Rajkot district, with police registering a case against three individuals for illegally tapping into a main pipeline of Gujarat Gas Limited (GGL). The incident came to light during a routine inspection by GGL teams, who regularly conduct surprise checks across the district's 566 active industrial consumers to detect irregularities.
Complaint and Accused
The complaint was filed at Shapar Veraval police station by Bhavsinh Dodiya, a 37-year-old engineer in GGL's technical department. The accused have been identified as Dipen Thummar, Paresh Thummar, and Kajal Meghnani, who were working as operators of a factory named Internal Food Product. The illegal activity was discovered on April 13, 2026, during a routine check at the Internal Food Product unit in the Vedati industrial area of Veraval.
Details of the Theft
During the inspection, officials observed that the operators had illegally tapped into the company's main pipeline by installing an unauthorized connection. This setup allowed them to draw gas without detection while simultaneously damaging the pipeline. An internal assessment by GGL estimated that the unit had siphoned off around 64,343 units of gas over the past year, resulting in a financial loss of approximately Rs 44.52 lakh.
Legal Action
The accused have been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Sections 287, 110, 303(2), 324(5), 317(4), and 54, along with Section 15(1) of the Petroleum and Minerals Pipeline (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act. Further investigation is underway to determine the full extent of the theft and any potential accomplices.
This case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by gas distribution companies in preventing unauthorized usage and pipeline damage, which not only cause financial losses but also pose safety risks to industrial areas.
