Panaji, June 28 (IANS) The Goa Police Crime Branch on Sunday raided an illegally operated centre used for storage of petroleum products, undertook detailed inspection of the site and subsequently seized fuel tankers worth Rs 1.5 crore, officials said.

During the raids, the crime branch examined as many as six fuel tankers and one tipper truck.

The storage facility purportedly hoarded the petroleum products without any license, thereby violating the guidelines under the Essential Commodities Act.

The crime branch acted upon a specific tip-off about the stockpiling of petro products and raided the premises in Dabolim region.

The raid comes in the backdrop of stretched and strained energy supply lines, due to curtailed supply of petroleum in the country.

The team inspected six fuel tankers and one tipper truck, leading to their seizure.

Combustible/petroleum liquid was found stored in the tankers following which samples were collected, sealed, and preserved for further examination.

All vehicles and sample exhibits were seized by the police team.

The estimated value of the seized vehicles and petroleum products is said to be nearly Rs 1.5 crore.

The operation was carried out in presence of forensic experts and officials from Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), for a period of about six hours.

Preliminary inquiry revealed that the premises and vehicles are allegedly operated by a person named Devendra Naik alias Raju Chawan of Sancoale in Goa.

The stored petroleum products were found to be diverted in the black market at inflated rates.

Oil experts said that the illegal storage and handling of petroleum products at the site was apparently in violation of the Petroleum Act, 1934, Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and Environment (Protection) Act, 1986, besides endangering public safety.

Accordingly, an offence was lodged under Sections 287 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), Section 23 of the Petroleum Act, 1934, Sections 3 read with 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, and Sections 8 read with 15 of the Environment (Protection) Act, 1986.

–IANS

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