7 arrested for hoarding petroleum products
HERALD REPORTERS
MARGAO/VASCO MAY 13
Seven persons were arrested on Thursday under the Essential Commodities Act for storage of petroleum products following Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) raids at Loutolim and Sancoale on Wednesday.
The trio detained in Wednesday’s crackdown by the CBI at Loutolim has been arrested under the Essential Commodities Act for storage of petroleum products.
The trio – Antonio Alvares, Manuel Fernandes and Sebastiao – were on Thursday remanded by the court to one day police custody, even as they moved the court for bail today. Hearing on the bail application will come up before the court on Friday.
Maina Curtorim police have said that petroleum products worth around Rs 2.20 lakhs were seized during the crackdown on the storage site at Loutolim. The police informed the District Magistrate, South on the seizure of the petroleum products as per the provisions of the Essential Commodities Act.
The CBI party led by Police Inspector Sandeep Chowgule had raided the premises at Loutolim yesterday evening following complaints from the oil companies on the issue of adulteration of petroleum products.
The investigating agency has collected samples of petrol, oil and diesel, besides other chemicals found at the premises for the purpose of investigations.
In his complaint lodged with the police, the CBI officer said that the raiding party allegedly caught the unauthorized activists at Loutolim red handed. They said the activity engaged in was posing danger as it was being carried on without any fire safety measures.
Maina Curtorim Police Sub Inspector Navlesh Desai said the police would oppose the bail applications moved by the accused persons when the applications come up for hearing on Friday.
It is learnt that the police had sought a 14-day police custody remand for the three persons to interrogate them and to find out the role of any more persons in connection with the case.
Meanwhile, Verna police have arrested four persons in connection with the CBI raid on an outlet at Sancoale.
It may be recalled that the CBI team on Wednesday had conducted a raid and seized petroleum products at an outlet in Sancoale. The exercise was a nationwide drive to curb adulteration of petroleum products.
Verna police have arrested Mehbood Khan, Riyaz Ahmed, both from Khariwado-Vasco, Salim Kharegar and Iqbal Kharegar, after the CBI handed over the case to Verna police.
Police have also attached about 600 litres of petrol, 1,000 litres of diesel, 70 barrels of furnace oil and a large number of empty barrels and other equipment
All the four accused have been arrested under Section 285 of IPC r/w 34, Section 3 of Essential Commodities Act r/w 7.
