Diesel pilferage racket busted in U.P.
New Delhi   20-Aug-2010

The Special Task Force of Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday busted a flourishing racket in pilferage of diesel meant for the Engine Oil Loco shed at Kasganj in Kanshi Ram Nagar district.

The quota of diesel lifted from the IndianOil (IOC) depot at Etmadpur in Agra district was replaced with kerosene midway, which was then supplied to the loco shed on a regular basis. It is suspected that the pilfered diesel was sold in the market. The Kasganj loco shed is under the jurisdiction of North Eastern Railway.

The racket was detected after the STF seized three oil tankers containing 36,000 litres of kerosene on Thursday. ADG (Law and Order) Brij Lal said a difference of Rs. 7.20 lakh between the price of diesel and kerosene is estimated on each tanker. Since on an average six to ten tankers supply kerosene to the loco factory daily, it is suspected that the diesel mixed with kerosene was injected in the engines, he said, adding that the Railways suffer huge financial losses on account of the oil pilferage and adulteration racket.

About eight persons, all employees of the railway loco shed and IOC, have been detained by the STF for interrogation.

The involvement of Railways' and IOC employees in the racket has not been ruled out by the investigating agency. The Divisional Railway Manager of Bareilly division of NER, the ADM and the district supply officer have reached Kasganj and investigations are under way, the ADG said.

Disclosing the details of the STF operation, Mr. Lal said the registration number of one of the seized oil tankers (UP80 DJ9033), which lifted diesel from the Etmadpur depot, was found to be fake. The diesel was pilfered midway between Etmadpur and Kasganj and replaced with kerosene oil. On being tipped off by the driver of the seized vehicle, the STF team seized another tanker (UP85 Y9755) containing kerosene. The details of the third oil tanker seized by the police were not given by the police officer as a detailed investigation is under way.