Following a major investigation into the fuel theft in Lucknow, the state Special Task Force (STF) has arrested 23 people associated with various petrol pumps in the city and suspended licence of seven pumps for duping unsuspecting customers.
Preliminary investigation suggests that the petrol pump owners across the state were making roughly Rs. 200 crore per month through fuel theft, carried out with the help of hi-tech micro chips fitted in the filling machines. These chips helped in dispensing less quantity of petrol while the metre showed the exact quantity demanded by the customers.
For instance, if a customer had asked for five litres of petrol to be filled, he/she would only get 4.5 litres.
The STF had raided the seven pumps in Lucknow two days ago and further investigation on Friday reveled that not only in Lucknow, about 80 per cent of petrol pumps in the entire state have been duping customers.
Lucknow DM G.S. Priyadarshi has asked oil companies to completely close the operations of these pumps.
The STF, which had received a tip-off about this scam, has been working on for the past 15 days to gather evidence against the erring pump owners. During the raid, the officials seized 22 remote- -controlled devices and more than 12 hi-tech chips.
Director General of UP Police Sulkhan Singh said petrol theft was taking place like an organised crime and added that further investigation in this connection will be carried out by the Special Investigation Team (SIT).
STF SSP Amit Pathak said, “Preliminary investigation suggests that this wonder chip has been installed in 80 per cent of pumps across the state but the figure could be much higher if further probe is done into the matter.”
According to official sources, one such chip costs around Rs. 30,000 and the electricians who install it charge between Rs. 5000 to Rs. 10,000. The chip, managed by a remote control, is used to reduce the quantity of petrol dispensed to the consumer.
The STF noted that the petrol scam has been going on for the past 10 years and the pump owners have been minting money.
Every day, one pump dispenses on an average about 10,000 litres of petrol or diesel and by dispensing less quantity of fuel, the owners earn Rs 4 on one litre. The total money gained a day by a pump owner would be roughly Rs 40,000 and on an average, they would earn Rs. 12 lakh to 14 lakh per month.
Further investigation is under way and some startling revelations are expected in connection with the theft soon.
