Cracking Down on Fuel Theft: Arrest of Fuel Mafia in Loni Kalbhor Raises Suspicions of More Involvement
The Pune police have made a significant breakthrough in their fight against fuel theft, apprehending Praveen Madikhambe, a notorious fuel mafia, and his associates for their involvement in stealing fuel by breaking the underground channel of Hindustan Petroleum in the Alandi area of Mhatoba on the Pune-Solapur road. The arrest comes in the wake of another major fuel mafia bust in the Loni Kalbhor area, leading investigators to believe that there might be more individuals involved in this illicit trade.
The recent arrests include Praveen Sidram Madikhambe, aged 51, a resident of Sri Santoshi Building, Sambhajinagar, Loni Kalbhor, along with Vishal Dhanaji Dhaygude (31 years old) and Balu Arun Chaure (30 years old), both residing in Sidrammala, Loni Kalbhor. The court has granted a five-day police custody for further investigation.
The modus operandi of the fuel thieves involves tapping into the underground channels that supply petrol and diesel from Mumbai to the oil depots of Hindustan Petroleum Company in various districts, including Satara and Solapur. The authorities unearthed an attempted fuel theft on July 25 when they discovered the broken underground channel in the mountains of Alandi Mhatobachi on the Pune-Solapur highway. Subsequently, Gaurav Kemchand Gupta, the manager of Hindustan Petroleum Company, filed a complaint at Loni Kalbhor Police Station.
The investigative efforts of the Loni Kalbhor police led to the arrest of fuel mafia Praveen Madikhambe and his associates, who have a history of involvement in fuel theft crimes in the region. Praveen, in particular, has faced charges related to fuel theft previously and is suspected to have been operating in the Loni Kalbhor area for ten to twelve years.
The black empire of fuel theft, as revealed through these arrests, raises concerns about the scale and extent of this illegal activity in the region. The police, under the guidance of Senior Police Inspector Dattatray Chavan, are determined to root out this fuel mafia network and ensure a crackdown on fuel theft to protect the interests of Hindustan Petroleum and the public at large.
As investigations continue, authorities are on high alert for any potential accomplices or collaborators in this fuel theft syndicate. The recent arrests serve as a stern warning to those involved in such criminal activities that their actions will not go unpunished. The police are committed to ensuring the integrity of the fuel supply chain and safeguarding the resources of legitimate businesses like Hindustan Petroleum.
