In what is being termed as the great Indian robbery, a gang comprising of petrol pump owners, politically-connected individuals and police officers allegedly stole oil worth more than Rs 100 crore from a pipeline of state-owned Indian Oil Corporation Ltd (IOCL).
The interstate gang comprising of members from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Haryana and Delhi for the last one and half years have been stealing oil from high-pressure refinery pipeline in Madhura.
While investigations have revealed that it was an inter-state gang, police have been able to arrest only four people so far. According to the New Indian Express report, the interstate gang also may have had the help of engineers and officials of IOCL. The police now are looking for at least 12 more members of the gang.
According to the police, the gang after identifying the pipeline location bought a plot in an area and constructed a house. The plot was bought at the ATV Colony as the Mathura-Jalandhar pipeline that passes through the area. After constructing a house, the gang with the help of an engineer found a way to steal oil from the pipeline.
The police reportedly now have requested the IOCL and the Petroleum Ministry for a vigilance inquiry into the matter. It is also reported that several refinery officials also are being placed under surveillance over their alleged involvement.