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Vadodara, October 24 (IANS) The State Monitoring Cell (SMC) of Gujarat Police has unearthed a large-scale petrol and diesel theft racket running within the limits of Jawahar Nagar police station in Vadodara.
Acting on a tip-off, officials raided an open plot near Amma Roadways Transport Office, where stolen fuel was allegedly being pumped out, stored and sold illegally.
The operation resulted in the arrest of four accused, including the main culprit, Shakeel Samunbhai Rangwala of Fatehganj, who is said to have a prior criminal record.
During the raid, SMC seized petrol and diesel worth Rs 18.48 lakh along with cash, mobile phones, vehicles and a tanker, taking the total seizure to Rs 44.25 lakh. The arrested associates were identified as employees and drivers involved in facilitating the illegal trade.
The raid, led by police inspector PP Brahmbhatt of the state surveillance cell, has once again raised questions on the vigilance of the local police as the illegal operation was being carried out openly in a busy area. Despite previous actions, fuel theft mafias are operating with impunity across Vadodara, highlighting the need for strong enforcement and strict monitoring.
Fuel theft – which includes diesel siphoned from municipal and industrial vehicles and petrol or diesel stolen from tankers – has emerged as a growing law and order concern in Gujarat.
In recent months, several major busts have been reported: in July 2025, authorities in Vadodara arrested three persons involved in a racket stealing fuel from tankers of a major oil company, and seized about 9,000 liters of diesel and petrol.
Earlier, a gang that stole 330 liters of diesel from parked vehicles was busted in Morbi district, in which four arrests were made and goods worth Rs 3.61 lakh were recovered. The state’s regulatory machinery is also taking note: For example, the Legal Metrology Department inspected 267 petrol-diesel pumps in all 33 districts in a special drive in July 2025 and initiated action against 16 pumps found to have irregularities.
–IANS
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