Panchkula, April 24: A joint raid by the Chief Minister’s flying squad uncovered a major LPG gas pilferage racket in Panchkula’s Sector 3, resulting in the booking of 25 individuals, including two gas agency owners.
Police said the operation, conducted alongside Sector 5 police, the weights and measures department, and the food and supplies department, exposed widespread malpractice by employees of Panchkula Gas Service (Indane Gas) and Roop Gas Agency (HP Gas). Fourteen employees were arrested on the spot, while nine others managed to flee. All those arrested were later released on bail.
“During the inspection, we caught delivery personnel red-handed while transferring gas from filled to empty cylinders inside loaded vehicles,” a police officer said. “They were using metal pipes resembling flutes to siphon off the gas.”
Authorities seized eight such metal pipes used in the illegal siphoning, according to officials. The stolen gas—ranging between one to two kilograms per cylinder—was reportedly extracted before delivery, defrauding unsuspecting customers by supplying underweight cylinders.
Anirudh Mittal, owner of Panchkula Gas Service, and Pawan Jain, distributor of Roop Gas Agency, have also been named in the FIR but are yet to be arrested. Police believe the systematic siphoning and redistribution point to an organized attempt to make illegal profit.
A total of 13 delivery vehicles—five from Panchkula Gas Service and eight from Roop Gas Agency—were checked during the raid. Of the 558 LPG cylinders weighed, 238 were found underfilled, with shortfalls ranging from 20 grams to as much as 10.350 kg. Authorities also found 47 empty cylinders loaded in the same vehicles.
A case has been registered under Sections 61 (criminal conspiracy) and 318(4) (cheating) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), along with Sections 7 and 10 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955.
“This isn’t just fraud; it’s a serious breach of consumer trust and safety,” a senior official from the weights and measures department noted.
Consumer Advisory:
Authorities reminded consumers to remain vigilant: a standard 14.2 kg LPG cylinder should weigh around 29.5 kg with packaging. Consumers are advised to check the cylinder’s seal and demand an on-the-spot weight check during delivery.
