UP: Teams formed to probe petrol theft, adulteration

10 teams have been formed under the supervision of Lucknow's District Magistrate (DM) Raj Sharma, to probe petrol theft and adulteration at 157 petrol pumps that have been identified.

The Lucknow administration is going to re-investigate the petrol pumps by using the remote devices. DM Sharma will be monitoring the teams and the report will be submitted to him.

According to the report, at least 157 petrol pumps have been identified as there are about 202 petrol pumps in the Lucknow city and the adjoining areas.

On May 3, the Uttar Pradesh Police Special Task Force (STF) raided over a dozen petrol pumps to check the sudden spurt of petrol theft in the state.

The STF had earlier registered FIRs against seven petrol pumps and arrested 23 people for using cheating chips.

As many as 15 electronic chips and 29 remote controls have been recovered from the seven petrol pumps.

STF sleuths found that a chip board-like device worth Rs. 3,000 was placed inside the petrol dispensing machine, which did the job.

Receiving a tip-off from an informer, STF sleuths apprehended electrician Ravinder who had developed that chip which helped petrol pump owners and staff to sell less petrol but at the original price.

According to reports, Ravindra had sold this chip to over 1,000 petrol pump owners across Uttar Pradesh.

On raiding at least eight pumps in the city, three at Sitapur Road and one each in the Cantonment area, Chinhat at Kamta crossing, Samta Mulak crossing in Gomtinagar and KGMU, all were found to be using the said chip.

After conducting a thorough investigation, the STF team arrested Ravindra, several petrol pump workers and owners.

A customer told ANI, "We are very satisfied and happy. The government should continue this good work. I suggest strict action should be taken against wrongdoers." Another customer suggested that raids should be conducted at every petrol pump.

-ANI