Illegal LPG storage unit busted in Outer Delhi, 610 gas cylinders seized; two owners on the run

The raid was conducted by the Anti-Extortion and Kidnapping Cell (AEKC) of the Crime Branch at Guruji Indane Gas Service, located at Khasra in Mundka.

According to police, the operation was carried out after officers received specific intelligence about illegal storage of LPG cylinders at the premises. Officers said they had received inputs and videos of people selling cylinders late at night at a price ranging between Rs 5,000 to Rs 12,000.

The godown where the raid was carried out had a capacity of storing 5000 kilograms of cylinders, officers said.

During the inspection, officers found commercial LPG cylinders belonging to multiple oil marketing companies—Indane, Bharat Gas and Hindustan Petroleum Gas—were stored together inside the premises, which is not permitted under the licensing conditions governing LPG distributorship, police said.

Police said a total of 610 cylinders were recovered during the search, including 197 filled and 392 empty commercial cylinders, along with 21 small-size domestic cylinders. In addition, 26 industrial cylinders of Indane with a capacity of 47 kg were also found inside the godown.

The recovered cylinders included 423 cylinders of Indane, 92 cylinders of Bharat Gas, and 95 cylinders of HP Gas, officials said.

Preliminary inquiry revealed that Guruji Indane Gas Service is authorised to distribute only commercial cylinders of Indane, but cylinders belonging to other oil marketing companies were also found stored and handled at the premises.

Investigators also found discrepancies in stock records during the preliminary verification. According to police, verbal communication from officials of Indian Oil Corporation indicated that the distributor’s stock of Indane commercial cylinders was expected to be nil as of March 10, 2025, whereas 133 filled Indane commercial cylinders were found at the site during the raid.

Officers said the illegal storage also posed serious safety risks, as LPG cylinders are highly inflammable and must be stored strictly in accordance with safety guidelines.

Following the recovery, a FIR was registered at the Crime Branch police station under Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 along with Section 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with criminal conspiracy.

The raid was conducted in the presence of Vikas Kumar, Food Supply Officer from the Food Supply and Consumer Affairs Department, Delhi, who confirmed that storing cylinders belonging to other companies within an Indane distributorship premises is illegal and violates LPG control regulations.

A team led by Inspector Amit Solanki, under the supervision of Assistant Commissioner of Police Pankaj Arora and overall supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police Sanjeev Kumar Yadav, conducted the raid and inspected the godown.

“The owners of the agency were not present at the premises at the time of the raid and are currently absconding. Efforts are underway to trace and apprehend those involved,” said the DCP.

Police said further investigation is underway to identify the entire supply chain and possible involvement of other persons in the illegal hoarding and suspected black-marketing of LPG cylinders.

“Delhi Police is maintaining strict vigil against illegal hoarding and black marketing of essential commodities across the city. Any information regarding such activities is acted upon with priority, and stringent legal action is taken against offenders. Our teams are continuously monitoring and conducting enforcement drives to ensure compliance with the law and to protect public safety,” said Devesh Srivastava, Special Commissioner of Police (Crime).