Delhi Police Crack Down on LPG Hoarding Amid Shortage Fears
In a significant operation addressing public concerns over LPG shortages, the Delhi Police crime branch has dismantled a major hoarding racket at a godown in outer Delhi's Mundka area. Authorities seized a total of 610 LPG cylinders that were stored in blatant violation of regulatory norms, highlighting ongoing issues in the distribution system.
Details of the Mundka Raid and Seizure
During the raid, police discovered that the agency, authorized solely to distribute commercial LPG cylinders under the Indane brand, had illicitly stored cylinders from multiple companies. DCP (crime) Sanjeev Kumar Yadav stated, "The team found a large number of commercial LPG cylinders belonging to other companies at the premises, which is strictly prohibited." The seizure included 197 filled and 392 empty cylinders, along with 21 small-sized cylinders. Breakdown of the confiscated items revealed:
- 423 cylinders from Indane
- 92 cylinders from Bharat Gas
- 95 cylinders from HP Gas
An inquiry uncovered serious discrepancies in stock records. Yadav added, "According to Indian Oil Corporation officials, the distributor's stock of Indane commercial cylinders should have been zero as of March 10, yet we found 133 filled Indane cylinders during the raid."
Risks and Legal Actions
Police emphasized that such illegal hoarding typically escalates during periods of scarcity, with cylinders being stockpiled and later sold at inflated prices in the black market. This not only disrupts the regulated LPG distribution system but also poses severe safety hazards due to the improper storage of highly inflammable materials. In response, an FIR was registered at the Crime Branch police station under Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act and Section 61(2) of the BNS for criminal conspiracy and illegal storage. The owner of the premises was absent during the raid and is currently absconding.
Additional Raids and Arrests in Delhi
In a related crackdown, Delhi Police conducted multiple raids targeting illegal LPG activities across the city:
- Rohini Arrest: On March 12, police arrested Pushpendra, a resident of Vijay Vihar and former delivery executive with a gas agency in Rohini, for allegedly engaging in illegal refilling of LPG cylinders. DCP (Rohini) Shashank Jaiswal reported the seizure of two filled commercial cylinders, 15 filled domestic cylinders, four weighing machines, four refilling pipes, and a motorcycle used for transportation. The accused was transferring gas from domestic cylinders into commercial ones to sell on the black market. A case has been registered, and investigations are ongoing.
- Northwest Delhi FIRs: Police registered FIRs against two shopkeepers in Pooth Khurd and Krishna Vihar areas for allegedly illegally refilling LPG and selling it at inflated prices. Authorities seized two large cylinders, two small cylinders, and refilling equipment used in the operation.
- Gandhi Nagar Arrest: In a similar action, police arrested 55-year-old Ram Vilas Sharma for allegedly illegally refilling LPG cylinders from a shop in Gandhi Nagar. The seizure included nine LPG cylinders, two gas filling machines, and a weighing machine.
These coordinated efforts underscore Delhi Police's commitment to curbing black market operations and ensuring public safety during times of resource scarcity. The crackdown aims to stabilize LPG distribution and prevent exploitation of consumers through illegal practices.
