Surat Police Bust Illegal LPG Racket Operating From Parking Lot, Nine Arrested With 88 Cylinders Authorities in Surat intercepted an illicit refilling operation that was siphoning cooking gas straight from a commercial tanker into retail cylinders, arresting nine people on site. A clandestine cooking gas siphoning racket operating within the industrial belt of Gujarat has been dismantled following a targeted enforcement action in Surat. Operating inside an enclosed parking space along the Bhesan to Hazira corridor, the syndicate had been transferring liquefied petroleum gas directly from a heavy road tanker into consumer cylinders. Acting on actionable intelligence regarding hazardous activity in the area, a police contingent raided the location unannounced, apprehending nine individuals actively involved in the transfer process. Details of the Seizure at the Scene Upon securing the perimeter of the parking plot, officers discovered a large transport tanker linked to retail canisters through improvised flexible lines. The search team confiscated 84 cylinders that had already been charged with stolen fuel during the ongoing shift. In addition to the loaded units, officials seized four empty cylinders awaiting refilling alongside three specialized transfer hoses used to bleed gas directly out of the tanker. The setup lacked basic fire suppression equipment or pressure regulators, creating an acute explosion hazard for surrounding properties. The Plot Rental and Internal Collusion According to the official first information report, the logistical brain behind the enterprise is Pawan Singh Gujjar. In order to secure a discreet operations yard, Pawan had brokered an arrangement with Mahesh Janjvadiya, who served as the premises watchman. Mahesh leased out access to the parking compound for a monthly fee of 12,000 rupees without alerting the actual landowner. Once uninterrupted access was established behind boundary walls, Pawan recruited a crew of handlers to manage the physical labor of connecting transfer lines and handling the cylinders. The Tanker Origin and Apprehended Accused The investigation disclosed that Laxman Singh Rawat piloted the transport vehicle, which was carrying bulk LPG associated with GAIL, straight into the rented yard. Once parked out of public view, Pawan's accomplices immediately connected delivery hoses to tap the pressurized cargo. The nine people taken into custody have been identified as ringleader Pawan Singh Gujjar, aged 26; Suresh Boriwala, aged 35; watchman Mahesh Janjvadiya, aged 35; Pankaj Singh Thakur, aged 26; Deva Singh, aged 28; Subhash Singh Rajput, aged 28; Vishal Bhabhor, aged 24; Deepak Bhabhor, aged 26; and driver Laxman Singh Rawat, aged 53. Statutory Charges and Expanded Inquiries Criminal proceedings have been initiated against all nine suspects under pertinent clauses of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. They have additionally been booked under the Essential Commodities Act of 1955 alongside the Liquefied Petroleum Gas Regulation of Supply and Distribution Order. DCP Shaifali Barwal stated that the action stemmed from verified intelligence concerning unauthorized fuel handling within the Bhesan-Hazira parking facility. Investigators are currently tracking the downstream distribution chain to determine which commercial eateries, vendors, or black market traders were slated to receive the illegally filled cylinders. What this means for you Black marketing and unauthorized cylinder refilling undermine consumer finances while posing severe explosive hazards to nearby neighborhoods. • Across India: Siphoning gas directly from supply logistics often results in under-filled domestic cylinders reaching genuine consumers, causing fuel to deplete unexpectedly early. Households should insist on mandatory weighing via the delivery staff portable scale before accepting cylinder handovers. • In Surat: The disruption of this unauthorized depot removes a catastrophic fire hazard from the high-density Bhesan and Hazira transportation belt. Area residents noticing unauthorized pumping or unusual tank parking within private plots should promptly notify law enforcement. • Commercial Markets: Intercepting these canisters cuts off an illicit conduit supplying discounted commercial fuel to unauthorized businesses. Buying fuel outside licensed distributor networks exposes commercial buyers to steep penalties under commodity control laws. • Consumer Budget: The diversion of bulk gas into gray markets forces families to order refills more frequently than normal consumption dictates. Customers must verify physical plastic seals and distributor markings before clearing delivery slips. Why this happened A nexus of logistical diversion, watchman collusion, and illicit fuel profits enabled this hazardous decanting operation to take root. • Bulk Cargo Diversion: A bulk transport driver linked to GAIL detoured the specialized pressurized tanker into an isolated lot instead of driving straight to the authorized distribution terminal. The driver colluded with handlers to bleed off volume for off-the-books cash. • Subletting Compound Access: The security guard on duty bypassed the property owner entirely, renting out the hidden lot for 12,000 rupees a month. This isolated compound provided the covert perimeter needed to handle hoses and cylinders undetected. • Black Market Arbitrage: Unregulated commercial enterprises and eateries frequently purchase non-traceable cylinders to avoid industrial utility rates or regulatory paperwork. The syndicate capitalized on this demand by selling bootlegged fuel at premium markups. • Actionable Intelligence: Targeted inputs received by law enforcement regarding illegal decanting in the Bhesan-Hazira area triggered an immediate raid, catching the entire crew mid-transfer. Questions & Answers 1. Where did the illegal gas refilling take place in Surat? The operation was uncovered inside a parking plot situated along the Bhesan-Hazira road in Surat. 2. What quantities of cylinders and equipment were recovered from the site? Police seized 84 filled cylinders, four empty cylinders, three transfer pipes, and one LPG road tanker. 3. Who was the primary mastermind running the refilling setup? The key accused behind the operation is Pawan Singh Gujjar, who organized the workforce and fuel siphoning. 4. What was the monthly rent agreed for the parking location? Pawan Singh rented the parking space from security guard Mahesh Janjvadiya for 12,000 rupees per month. 5. Which organization was the seized gas tanker associated with? According to investigators, the LPG tanker was brought from GAIL by driver Laxman Singh Rawat. 6. Under which legal statutes have the accused been charged? Charges were filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, Essential Commodities Act of 1955, and the LPG Supply Regulation Order. https://trendkia.com/en/crime/surat-men-lpg-tainkara-se-sidhe-silendaron-men-gaisa-chori-ka-bhndaphora-pulisa-ne-nau-logon-ko-pakara-35368 TrendKia — Har trend, sabse pehle.