Two held for illegally refilling LPG cylinders

On a tip-off that illegal refilling was going on at a house on Jamb Road near here, police yesterday raided the spot and nabbed Sahebrao Shyamrao Chavan (35) and Babu Babarao Murzade (18), both residents of Karalgaon village, police sub-inspector Shankar Dhote said.

Altogether 18 LPG cylinders -- 16 of them of Hindustan Petroleum company, delivered to a local dealer -- and a transport vehicle were seized from the spot, he said.

Explaining the modus operandi, police said the cylinders were shown delivered to consumers in the register of the dealer. These cylinders were then stocked at the house raided by police where gas from them was transferred into empty cylinders which were then sold in open market at high prices.

Involvement of some officials of Civil Supply department is suspected in the racket, police said.