Malegaon: In a significant breakthrough, the Nashik Rural Police have arrested five individuals in connection with a major petroleum theft case, while three others are still on the run. The case, registered on May 6 at the Manmad City Police Station, involves the illegal siphoning of fuel from a high-pressure underground petroleum pipeline.
Nashik Rural Superintendent of Police Balasaheb Patil confirmed on June 11 that the operation was led by Police Inspector Vijay Kare. Those arrested have been identified as Sonu Tiwari (35) from Kalyan; Karthik Mudaliyar (38) and Mohd Maqsud (40), both from Govandi; Irfan Momin from Manmad; and Kakasaheb Garud from Anekwade.
The police are still searching for the absconding accused—Wahid Sayyad from Govandi, Yaqub Shaikh, and Amjad Qureshi, both believed to be based in other parts of Mumbai.
According to SP Patil, the gang had tapped into the Mumbai-Manmad-Bijwasan pipeline owned by Bharat Petroleum Corporation Limited (BPCL), which runs underground through the Anekwade area in Manmad. The accused allegedly drilled a hole in the pipeline and installed a clamp with a valve to siphon off petroleum products. This act posed a serious threat to public safety and critical infrastructure.
The suspects have been booked under Sections 15 and 16 of the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962, along with Sections 302(2) and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The investigation was carried out under the guidance of Sub-Divisional Police Officer Bajirao Mahajan and the supervision of Additional Superintendent of Police Teghbir S Sandhu.
Authorities continue their efforts to apprehend the remaining suspects and further examine the extent of the operation.
