Kanpur Civil Supply Department Exposes Major LPG Violations in Dual Operations
In a significant crackdown on black marketing and illegal activities in the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) sector, the district civil supply department in Kanpur has exposed two separate cases involving serious violations. The operations, conducted on Thursday, revealed instances of commercial cylinder overpricing and illegal refilling of domestic cylinders, with authorities recommending registration of cases under the stringent Essential Commodities Act.
First Case: Commercial Cylinder Overpricing at Ashok Nagar
On March 25, a dedicated inspection team visited a fast food vendor located in Ashok Nagar. During their thorough examination, officials discovered commercial gas cylinders being utilized on the premises. Three commercial cylinders were subsequently recovered from the site for further investigation.
When questioned about the cylinders, hotel operator Ashraf Ali disclosed that he had purchased them from S B Associate Agency, also situated in Ashok Nagar. Ali revealed procurement details, stating that one cylinder was acquired on March 23, while two more were obtained on March 25, with each cylinder costing him Rs 3,500.
The investigation team meticulously examined available tax invoices, which revealed startling pricing discrepancies. The documented base price for a commercial cylinder was established at Rs 2,496.02. After adding the mandatory 18% Goods and Services Tax (GST), the legitimate maximum price should have been Rs 2,945.30 per cylinder.
Despite this clear pricing structure, the agency had charged Rs 3,500 per cylinder, resulting in an overcharge of approximately Rs 554.70 per unit. This substantial markup represents a clear violation of pricing regulations designed to protect consumers and businesses from exploitation.
The team promptly seized all three commercial cylinders from the location and placed them in secure custody. In their comprehensive report, officials strongly recommended registering a First Information Report (FIR) against both agency operator Sachin Mishra and hotel operator Ashraf Ali under Section 3/7 of the Essential Commodities Act of 1955.
Second Case: Illegal Domestic Cylinder Refilling in Kakadeo
In a simultaneous operation conducted on Thursday morning, a joint team from the supply department raided a roadside kiosk situated on Tulsi Road in the Kakadeo area. This operation uncovered a different but equally serious violation involving domestic LPG cylinders.
According to the detailed report submitted by supply inspector Abhishek Kumar from Anwarganj, the team discovered an individual identified as Samar, son of the late Mushtaq and resident of Roshan Nagar, Ram Vihar, engaged in the illegal refilling of domestic LPG into small, non-ISI marked cylinders.
The raid resulted in the recovery of substantial evidence, including:
- An electronic weighing scale with 30 kg capacity
- Nine old non-ISI marked cylinders
- One partially filled cylinder
- A regulator and thin pipes specifically used for gas refilling operations
The accused individual failed to provide any satisfactory explanation regarding the illegal refilling activities discovered at the site. This lack of justification further strengthened the case against him.
Based on the evidence collected and the nature of the violation, authorities recommended registering an FIR against the accused under Section 3/7 of the Essential Commodities Act of 1955. District Civil Supply Officer Rakesh Kumar confirmed this recommendation, emphasizing the department's commitment to curbing such illegal practices.
Broader Context and Ongoing Campaign
These two cases represent part of an ongoing, intensified campaign against black marketing and illegal refilling of gas cylinders in the Kanpur region. The civil supply department has been actively monitoring and investigating potential violations to ensure fair pricing and safe distribution of essential commodities.
To date, authorities have registered 12 FIRs in various incidents involving LPG cylinders, demonstrating the scale of the problem and the department's determined response. These enforcement actions aim to protect consumers from price gouging while preventing potentially dangerous practices like unauthorized cylinder refilling, which can pose serious safety risks.
The Essential Commodities Act provides authorities with powerful legal tools to prosecute those who violate regulations governing essential goods like LPG. By recommending cases under this legislation, the Kanpur civil supply department is sending a clear message that such violations will not be tolerated and will face serious legal consequences.
