Date:19/11/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/11/19/stories/2008111960610400.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

LPG refilling unit busted, three held

Special Correspondent

— Photo: M.Vedhan

Tool: The equipment used for transferring LPG from cylinders into fuel tanks of automobiles.

CHENNAI: Three persons, including a liquefied petroleum gas distributor of an oil marketing company, were arrested by the Civil Supplies CID police on Tuesday in connection with an illegal, mobile LPG refilling unit.

According to the police, calltaxi operator and one of those arrested Arumugham was involved in transferring LPG from the heavily subsidised 14.2 kg cylinder into the fuel tanks fitted to automobiles, particularly calltaxies. After procuring the cylinders he used to transfer the fuel from them using a small machine. An official of Indian Oil Corporation described the machine as a foot-operated pump. On questioning, Arumugham said he procured the cylinders from an LPG delivery employee Suresh, who was also arrested. Around 10 cylinders were seized from them during the crackdown on Trustpuram 4th Street, Kodambakkam, police said. A van used as calltaxi was also seized. The police team then arrested Ramesh, an Indane distributor.

Cases were filed under the Essential Commodities Act and three were remanded, police said. A senior official of IOC confirmed the arrest and said the delivery employee was caught while supplying the cylinders to the calltaxi operator.

The oil company would initiate action against the distributor on getting a report from the Civil Supplies Department, the official added.