Nagpur Crime Branch Exposes Major LPG Black Marketing Racket in Khadka
In a significant crackdown on the illicit trade of subsidized domestic cooking gas, the Nagpur Crime Branch dismantled a large-scale illegal refilling and hoarding operation in Khadka village, located under the jurisdiction of Hingna police station on the city's outskirts. The operation, conducted late on Sunday evening, revealed a sophisticated network that was systematically depriving legitimate household consumers of their LPG cylinder supply while illegally benefiting commercial establishments.
Raid Unearths Dangerous Refilling Operation
Acting on a credible tip-off, a specialized Crime Branch team led by Senior Inspector Dnyaneshwar Bhedodkar executed a surprise raid at approximately 5:10 PM on Monday. The target was a concealed godown situated on the farmland of one of the primary accused, Habib Gulam Sheikh, in Khadka village. During the operation, police caught the perpetrators in the act of transferring liquefied petroleum gas from subsidized domestic cylinders into commercial cylinders using hazardous, unauthorized equipment.
The seized machinery included refilling motors, vacuum pumps, numerous transfer pipes, and weighing scales. Senior PI Bhedodkar, who led the raid under the supervision of DCP (Crime) Rahul Maknikar, ACP Abhijit Patil, and Addl CP Vasant Pardeshi, emphasized the extreme dangers of this practice. "This reckless operation blatantly violates all established safety protocols and creates a severe risk of catastrophic explosions and fires due to the improper handling of highly flammable LPG," he stated.
Massive Haul and Arrests Made
The police operation resulted in the confiscation of a vast array of contraband, with an estimated total value of around ₹12 lakh. The seized items comprised:
- 179 gas cylinders in various states: filled, partially filled, and empty.
- Sophisticated refilling equipment, including 80 transfer pipes, 3 vacuum pumps, 7 regulators, 2 refilling motors, and 2 weighing scales.
- A Bolero pick-up vehicle (RJ 18 GC 7609) valued at ₹4.50 lakh, used for transportation.
- ₹12,700 in cash generated from illegal sales.
- 6 mobile phones worth ₹1,21,000.
The arrested individuals include Sunilkumar Jani (42), Prakash Khilleri (23), and Shravan Kumar Rajuram Jani—all originally from Palli village in Rajasthan's Jodhpur district but currently residing at the Hingna site—along with local resident Habib Gulam Sheikh of Khadka village and the owner of Bhavani Gas Agency. Police investigations revealed that Sheikh provided shelter to the racketeers at his farm property.
Modus Operandi and Exploitation of Shortages
Investigators disclosed that the key accused—Sunilkumar, Prakash, and Rajuram—were employed as delivery personnel for various gas agencies. In collusion with agency owners, they initiated this black marketing scheme approximately one year ago. The racket capitalized on the persistent shortage of domestic LPG cylinders in Nagpur, where households have recently faced refill delivery delays extending from 10 to 15 days or even longer.
By illegally diverting subsidized domestic gas into commercial cylinders, the accused supplied it at significantly reduced rates—typically ₹500 to ₹1,000 cheaper than market price—to commercial clients. These included roadside dhabas, restaurants, Saoji food joints, resorts, and farmhouses on the city's periphery. This illicit diversion not only deprived ordinary families of timely cooking gas but also artificially exacerbated scarcity and fueled black-market price inflation, making the trade highly lucrative for both suppliers and receivers.
Legal Action and Ongoing Probe
A formal case has been registered at Hingna police station under Section 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, pertaining to negligent conduct with respect to explosive substances, along with Sections 3 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act. All arrested persons and the seized materials have been handed over to Hingna police for further detailed investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.
Nagpur Police Commissioner Ravinder Singal has ordered a comprehensive probe to thoroughly uncover the entire nexus between the gas agency owners and the delivery personnel involved in this extensive illegal operation. The crackdown highlights ongoing efforts to curb the black marketing of essential commodities and ensure public safety.
