Surat Petrol Pump Scam: Eight Workers Steal Rs 15.76 Lakh and Flee City
In a startling case of employee fraud, eight workers at a petrol pump in Surat have been accused of siphoning off a substantial sum of Rs 15.76 lakh and subsequently vanishing after their scheme was uncovered by the manager. The incident, which unfolded over a two-month period, has led to a police investigation in the Saroli area.
Details of the Alleged Theft and Investigation
The petrol pump, known as Sanidhya Petroleum, is located on the Surat-Kadodara Road in Saroli. It was established approximately a year ago by a group of five partners. Nikunj Akbari, a 23-year-old manager, was entrusted with handling the daily accounts, cash management, and overall operations of the facility.
The sequence of events began when Umesh Prajapati was hired by Akbari ten days after the pump commenced operations, receiving a salary of Rs 17,000. Four months later, Ramesh Nathu Singh joined the workforce with a salary of Rs 13,500. Singh later suggested that additional staff were needed and, with Akbari's approval, brought in several more individuals: Sukhdev Singh, Manohar Singh, Kamlesh Singh, and Dinesh. All of these new hires were employed at a salary of Rs 13,500 each. Subsequently, Akbari also recruited Om Singh and Arjun Vishwakarma.
The fraud came to light six months ago when one of the partners, Sunny Dobariya, alerted Akbari about consistently low bank account balances over the preceding two months. Upon conducting a thorough review of bill challans and bank entries, Akbari discovered that a total of Rs 15.76 lakh was unaccounted for. The investigation revealed that the accused employees had manipulated online payments and QR code transactions, creating false bills to illicitly divert cash.
Confession and Disappearance of the Accused
When confronted by Akbari, all eight accused employees admitted to their involvement in the scam and promised to repay the stolen amount within three days. However, they reneged on this promise and fled Surat instead. Reports indicate that some of the individuals returned to their native states, such as Rajasthan and Telangana, effectively evading immediate accountability.
The Saroli police have officially registered a case against all eight accused persons and have initiated a comprehensive investigation to locate them and recover the stolen funds. This incident underscores significant vulnerabilities in financial oversight at small businesses and highlights the challenges of employee fraud in the retail sector.
The petrol pump partners are now grappling with the financial loss and operational disruptions caused by this elaborate theft. The case serves as a cautionary tale for business owners regarding the importance of robust internal controls and regular audits to prevent such fraudulent activities.
