3 petrol pumps under CBI scanner

CBI DIG (Western Region) Pravin Salunkhe told The Indian Express that the raids were conducted as per the complaints registered with the office. “We conducted the surprise checks on those involved in hydrocarbon adulteration rackets,” said Salunkhe. He said samples of all the stations have been sent to laboratories in Mumbai and the report is expected within 15 days.

According to the information provided by the CBI,a diesel tanker checked at the New Auto Corner containing 20,000 litres showed a lesser density from what was recorded at the IOCL terminal at Vashi. “The testing done at BPCL showed the density of the diesel was 832.1 kg per cubic metre while the invoice records said 826.70 kg per cubic metre. The variation was more than the permissible limit,” said a CBI officer who accompanied the Pune raids.

At the Loni Kalbhor station,samples of petrol have been collected for testing as the tests could not be done at the mobile testing laboratory because of a short circuit. HPCL officer said the samples have been collected. “We have not been told that there is some fault. Since the tests could not be done at the mobile testing laboratory,we were told that the samples were being sent,” said a senior officer from HPCL.

Raids were carried out at two places in Nagpur,three in Goa,four in Silvassa,three in Pune and also in Navi Mumbai.

Salunkhe said there were complaints of adulteration and according to their sources there is possibility of involvement of gangs. “If tests come positive,the petrol pump can face closure and the owner can be imprisoned under Petroleum Act and Essential Commodities Act.”