Major Diesel Adulteration Racket Busted in Salem
The Civil Supplies CID police in Salem city have made significant arrests in a case involving the illegal sale of suspected adulterated diesel. Two individuals have been taken into custody for their involvement in this fuel scam that threatened both vehicle owners and legitimate businesses.
The Arrests and Seizure
Police authorities identified the arrested individuals as T Mohan, 27, from Namakkal and K Ramasamy, 32, from Omalur. During the operation, law enforcement officials confiscated a substantial quantity of diesel - approximately 5,000 litres - along with the vehicle used in the illegal operation.
The investigation began after the Civil Supplies CID received a formal complaint from P Selvaraju, the president of the Petrol Bunk Owners' Association. The complaint highlighted that certain private bus operators were engaging in illegal diesel filling practices using bowser vehicles, which are not legally permitted for transporting petroleum products like diesel.
Investigation Reveals Illegal Operation
Under the direction of Civil Supplies CID Inspector M Rajakumar, investigations uncovered that a Salem-based private bus company named LRN had been systematically filling diesel in their buses using an unauthorized bowser truck. This discovery led directly to the arrest of bowser driver Mohan and cleaner Ramasamy.
Initial findings indicate that the actual owner of the bowser truck, V Vishnu Manoj, 35, from Kuralnatham, had been selling diesel at prices significantly lower than those offered at legitimate fuel bunks. This suspicious pricing strategy raised immediate red flags about the quality of the diesel being sold.
"We suspect that it is adulterated diesel," Inspector Rajakumar confirmed to media representatives. The police have sent samples of the confiscated diesel for laboratory testing to determine the exact nature and extent of adulteration.
Legal Proceedings and Ongoing Manhunt
Authorities have registered a formal case against the accused individuals. Both arrested men have been placed in judicial custody while the police continue their search for the primary suspect, Vishnu Manoj, who remains at large.
This case highlights the ongoing challenges faced by regulatory authorities in controlling illegal fuel operations that not only violate transportation laws but also potentially damage vehicle engines and evade government taxes and regulations.
