In Vadodara, Gujarat Police’s State Monitoring Cell (SMC) busted a large fuel‑theft ring that had been operating in the Jawahar Nagar police area.
The raid, triggered by a tip‑off, took place at an open plot next to the Amma Roadways transport office, where thieves were siphoning, storing and selling petrol and diesel illegally.
Four suspects were taken into custody, including the ringleader, Shakeel Samunbhai Rangwala of Fatehgunj, who has a prior criminal record. Police inspector P.P. Brahmbhatt, leading the operation, seized more than ₹18 lakh in stolen petrol and diesel, plus cash, mobile phones, cars and a tanker, bringing total recoveries to ₹44 lakh.
The raid highlighted how openly fuel‑theft operations can run in busy districts. Despite earlier crackdowns, similar rackets continue to flourish across Vadodara, signalling a need for tougher enforcement and tighter surveillance.
Fuel theft—whether siphoned from municipal or private vehicles or pilfered from tankers—has become a growing law‑and‑order challenge in Gujarat. In July, Vadodara police arrested three people connected to a tanker‑theft scam that netted about 9,000 litres of diesel and petrol. In Morbi district, authorities busted a gang that stole 330 litres of diesel from parked vehicles, recovering goods worth ₹3.6 lakh.
The Legal Metrology Department is also stepping up checks; in July, it inspected 267 petrol‑diesel pumps across the state, taking action against 16 pumps found with irregularities.
The SMC’s latest raid demonstrates that even high‑profile fuel‑theft rings can be dismantled when police act decisively—an important reminder of the ongoing fight against this widespread crime.
Source: ianslive
Stay informed on all the latest news, real-time breaking news updates, and follow all the important headlines in world News on Latest NewsX. Follow us on social media Facebook, Twitter(X), Gettr and subscribe our Youtube Channel.
