The Yellow Gate Police on Friday busted a major illegal diesel procurement and storage racket operating off the Mumbai coast, allegedly involving the unauthorised handling and sale of thousands of litres of diesel. Ten people have been arrested and two barges seized during the operation.

A case has been registered under the relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and the Motor Spirit and High-Speed Diesel Order, 1988.

According to the police, the offence came to light around 1.30 am when constable Sikandar Anant Dolkar, the complainant, noticed suspicious activity, approximately 800 metres off the New Fish Jetty (Bhaucha Dhakka) in the anchorage area of the Arabian Sea. A first information report (FIR) was registered at 6.25 am at Yellow Gate Police Station.

During the operation, police seized two barges — Shri Anant Laxmi (PNJ 430) and MT Pranay (BDR-IV-00094) — which were allegedly being used for the illegal handling and transfer of diesel. From Shri Anant Laxmi, the officers recovered 9,700 litres of diesel-like liquid valued at Rs 8.73 lakh, along with an old electric motor pump and a plastic pipe. The barge itself is valued at Rs 2.5 crore.

From MT Pranay, the police seized 300 litres of diesel-like liquid worth Rs 27,000. The barge, which is in a rusted condition, is valued at Rs 2 crore. The total value of all seized property stands at Rs 4.59 crore.

Police have arrested 10 accused in the operation— barge masters, seamen, a helper and a driver — identified as Yasin Urman Muzawar, Ramaraj Dhaniram Singh, Kamlesh Gorakh Dixit, Deepak Kumar Hoompal Singh, Lokeshkumar Rajulal Saini, Rajan Kumar Surjan Yadav, Pradeep Kumar Vaidya, Gopal Ibhansingh Kunwar, Netra Naramsingh Kunwar and Dipendra Kadaksingh Kunwar. They hail from Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan and Bihar.

Three of the accused — Pradeep Pandit, a supervisor with Shrikrishna Group; Vishal, the alleged owner of Shrikrishna Group; and Gangaram Kondiba Ingle, owner of the barge MT Pranay — are currently wanted in the case.

Police said the accused had allegedly conspired to purchase stolen diesel without any valid licence, and had allegedly handled, stored and transported the flammable material without essential safety precautions. Such illegal activity, officials noted, poses a serious risk to human life and maritime safety.

The investigation is being led by Police Inspector Sudarshan Chavan, under the supervision of Deputy Commissioner of Police (Port Zone) Vijaykant Sagar, officers said.

Source