Couple’s hand suspected in 11 similar petrol theft cases in Gujarat

A day after police arrested a young couple for theft of petrol, 11 more similar cases have come to the fore. Police believe that the arrested couple is involved in almost all of them.

Cops said as soon as news of the arrest of the couple spread, several complainants came forward with their grievances about petrol theft. Anandnagar police said the 11 complaints talked about theft of petrol in which the modus operandi used was similar to the one used by the couple.

The couple had got their car filled with Rs4,650 worth petrol and escaped without paying. They had duped the Visat petrol pump near Chandkheda.

Police said that they received complaints about two petrol theft each from Naroda, Chandkheda, Bavla-Bagodara and Gandhinagar.

One complaint each came from Himmatnagar, Gota and Narol based petrol pumps were also registered.

According to cops, in these thefts cases the accused ran away after having their car’s tank filled with petrol. “We have received various complaints on Friday and verified them as well. Given the modus operandi, we suspect that the couple could be involved in these cases as well,” said JM Bharwad.

On Thursday, the police arrested Arjun Zhala, 21, and his partner Arti alias Pooja Jadeja, 22 in connection with petrol theft that took place in Chandkheda. During interrogation, the cops also came to know of the crime graph of one of the partners, including a murder charge.

Bharwad said that the couple has been sent to remand till June 29 for further investigation.