Freak oil heist in Rajasthan: 8 thieves puncture pipeline to steal 20 tonnes of crude
The group of eight, with history of petty thefts, were arrested by the Gujarat ATS last week.
Eight men have been apprehended in Rajasthan for allegedly stealing 20 tonnes of crude oil by tampering with an HPCL pipeline in Balotra district. The Gujarat Anti Terrorism Squad (ATS) received a tip-off about individuals attempting to sell crude oil along the Ahmedabad-Rajkot highway, which led to the arrest of a man near Sokhda village in Rajkot district.
Further investigation revealed the syndicate, with the arrested men showcasing their connections to the jail and detailed knowledge of the local 20-km HPCL refinery network. They dug a three-foot pit in Rajasthan’s Balotra district, punctured the high-pressure HPCL pipeline, installed a valve, and fled with the stolen oil in two vehicles.
The accused, identified as Ghanshyam Soni, Jayrajsinh Chudasama, Mukesh Meghwal, Ranjit Chorasiya, Ramesh Thakore, Sureji Thakore, Mahesh Thakore, and Dilip Yadav, are suspected of selling the crude oil to a resident in Beawar, Rajasthan. The case is under investigation by the Gujarat ATS, who are probing if additional individuals were involved.
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