An inter-state gang involved in large scale oil theft from Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) pipeline from Salaya to Mathura was today busted and its kingpin was arrested here, police said.
The gang run by a former ONGC security personnel, Ramesh Yadav, a native of Mainpuri in Uttar Pradesh, is estimated to have sold 92 (1 tanker has 20,000-25,000 ltrs) tankers of crude oil valued at Rs 7 crore in the market, in last three years.
"A gang with over 12 members involved in organised oil theft from IOC's Salaya to Mathura pipeline led by former ONGC security personnel was busted and kingpin Ramesh Yadav, was arrested," Joint Commissioner of Police A K Sharma told reporters.
Yadav, was arrested from here, while trying to give shape to his plan of starting oil theft from ONGC's pipelines in Gujarat, DCP Crime Branch Himanshu Shukla said.
Detailing on the gang's modus operandi Sharma said, "Ramesh alongwith his three cohorts from Mainpuri formed sub-gangs, each comprising people from Gujarat and Haryana and had systematically punctured the pipeline at seven points (5 in Rajasthan and 2 in Mathura)."
"The sub-gangs were expert in puncturing high pressure oil pipelines by fitting clamps, nozzles, safety valves and transferring the oil to tankers," he said.
"The high pressure oil pipeline was punctured at several places in Bharatpur and Ajmer in Rajasthan and two spots in Mathura. Large quantity of crude oil was being withdrawn from the pipeline for last three years," Sharma said adding that around 92 tankers laden with such oil were sold by the gang.
"The crude oil which sells in market at around Rs 36 per litre was being sold by the gang near Delhi-UP border for Rs 12-15 per litre," he said.
