Two arrested over 160-litre diesel theft

The Loni Kalbhor police have busted a major racket of fuel theftand arrested two persons on charges of breaching the supply pipeline of HPCL Company and pilfering 160 litres of diesel till date.

The accused have been identified as Riyaz Rajahmed Rangrez(45), and Ulfat Husain Shaikh (32), both residents of Solapur. They were arrested on Sunday and produced in the court. The duo was remanded to police custody till Tuesday.

HPCL Manager (operations) Raghu Sanjeevrao Chyunduri (41), had lodged a complaint under sections of the Petroleum Mineral Act, Prevention of Defacement of Public Property Act and IPC in this regard at the Loni Kalbhor police station on November 15. Other two accused -- Ismail Shaikh and another person also named Ismail, who are accomplices of Rangrez and Shaikh -- are still absconding.

The incident came to light after Chyunduri was informed by his colleagues that the computer system was showing a drop in pressure on November 15 at 1.45 am. The officials immediately stopped the pumping and set out to inspect the pipeline.

Chyunduri saw that pipe was drilled and fuel was seeping out. Realising that somebody was trying to pilfer fuel, they approached the police. Public Prosecutor Vaman Koli said, "The main accused is Ismail Shaikh, who is a criminal on police record, and is absconding. Police have to yet seize the vehicle used by accused to commit the offence."u00a0