Mumbai: Cops bust diesel pilfering racket; nine arrested

The RCF police have busted an oil pilferage racket and have arrested nine people for allegedly pilfering over 1 lakh litres of diesel worth Rs 62 lakh from the pipeline of petroleum companies at Gavhanpada in Trombay.

Those arrested included Hasim Choudhary, Riyaz Khan, Kishore Shirsode, Deepak Muniraj, Abdul Shaikh, Parvez Khan and Nasir Ansari.

According to the police, specific information was received by Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) RB Mane that pilferage of diesel is being done at Gavhanpada following which a probe was initiated. The accused persons were arrested on September 10.

Their interrogation revealed that they would drill a two meter hole in the diesel pipelines and with the help of clamps, they would pilfer diesel. The pilfered diesel was then filled in tankers and was later stored in different places in Pune, police said.

“The group has so far stolen 1,04,000 liters of oil worth Rs 62 lakh. We have seized Rs 93,000 in cash, a tanker and a car from the accused persons. We are on the lookout for eight more people involved in the case,” said Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone VI, Shahaji Umap.