Rajkot Fuel Dealer Booked for Spreading Panic Amid Israel-Iran War Rumors
Rajkot: Gopal Chudasama, President of the Rajkot District Petrol Diesel Dealers Association, was formally booked by police on Tuesday for allegedly disseminating misinformation about a fuel shortage in Gujarat. This incident occurred even as repeated government assurances regarding adequate stock partially helped to ease the widespread panic buying that had gripped the state.
FIR Lodged Under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Essential Commodities Act
An FIR was registered against Chudasama at the Pradyuman Nagar police station in Rajkot. The complaint was filed by Amit Jaiswal, the divisional retail sales head of Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL). The charges include Section 353(1)(B) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which pertains to spreading false information or rumors likely to cause public panic, disorder, or disruption of public services, as well as violations under the Essential Commodities Act. The association led by Chudasama represents approximately 200 members.
Alleged Misconduct at IOCL Office and Social Media Fallout
According to the official complaint, on March 23, Chudasama, accompanied by a group of 40 to 50 dealers, representatives, and media personnel, allegedly entered Jaiswal's office at IOCL Bhavan on Racecourse Ring Road without obtaining prior permission. The group proceeded to inquire about the current stock and supply status of petrol and diesel. Jaiswal stated that he assured them IOCL maintained sufficient fuel stocks and explicitly advised against spreading any false rumors.
"However, immediately after leaving the IOCL office, Chudasama made false statements on social media, falsely claiming unavailability of fuel at pumps," the FIR explicitly states. This misinformation rapidly proliferated through various news channels, which began reporting that petrol pumps were "dry" and that the company had exhausted its stock. "This misinformation caused people to panic and queue up at petrol pumps, leading to chaos and inconvenience," the FIR further elaborates.
Panic Buying Leads to Doubled Fuel Sales and Extended Queues
The intense rush at petrol pumps showed signs of easing on Tuesday. However, numerous stations continued to witness persistent queues and exceptionally heavy sales volumes, significantly higher than normal levels. On Monday night, many individuals were observed searching for operational petrol pumps late into the night, with some even traveling to highway pumps that typically remain open overnight.
Dhimant Ghelani, Secretary of the Rajkot City Petrol Dealers Association, commented, "The situation is returning to normal as adequate stock is being provided to customers. All the pumps have fuel, and some that ran empty were restocked in a short time." The situation also began improving in other regions such as Jamnagar and Kutch, following government assurances at various forums about sufficient fuel availability.
Ahmedabad Experiences Severe Spillover of Panic Buying
Ahmedabad faced an intense spillover of the panicked fuel buying, with queues persisting across many areas throughout the city. While lines diminished slightly as the day progressed, most outlets continued to report heavy footfall, primarily driven by motorists insisting on full-tank refills as a precautionary measure.
Estimates provided by oil companies indicate that petrol sales rose dramatically against normal volumes, with diesel sales nearly doubling. This unprecedented rush, triggered entirely by rumors rather than any genuine supply issues, severely stretched operational capacities. Workers were deployed overnight to manage the overwhelming crowds and reassure anxious consumers.
Customers endured long waiting periods in queues. Officials reiterated that stocks remain entirely adequate, issuing warnings that precautionary buying alone risks creating localized, artificial shortages.
Petrol and Diesel Sales Double in a Single Day
Petrol and diesel sales across Gujarat nearly doubled in a single day on Monday, driven exclusively by panic refuelling triggered by the false shortage rumors. The rush extended into Tuesday as well, with queues shortening only marginally through the day, while most petrol pumps continued to witness exceptionally heavy footfall.
Detailed estimates from oil companies reveal that on Monday, fuel sales were normal during the morning hours before surging sharply after 2 PM. Statewide petrol sales escalated to 17,798 kilolitres (Kl) against an average daily sales figure of 8,150 Kl, marking an increase of 118%. Concurrently, diesel sales increased to 26,935 Kl compared to the usual 16,120 Kl, representing a significant rise of 67%.
