Police authorities in Rajasthan capital Jaipur have apprehended two young men accused of routinely fleeing petrol pumps without clearing their fuel bills. In a targeted joint operation, Bindayaka police station personnel alongside the District Special Team (DST) tracked down and detained the accused, identified as Ankit Verma and Vishal Mehra. Initial findings indicate that the pair targeted more than 20 fuel outlets across multiple sectors of Jaipur, filling up their vehicles and speeding off before station attendants could collect payment. Investigators are currently questioning the duo to uncover additional offenses.
Use of Stolen Number Plates to Conceal Identity
According to investigators, the suspects operated with calculated deception to evade law enforcement. They would pull into retail outlets, request fuel attendants to fill the tank, and immediately accelerate away the moment the nozzle was removed, completely avoiding payment. Establishments such as Mama Petrol Pump and Dhaka Filling Station were among those hit by the fraudsters. These recurring incidents created persistent anxiety and financial burdens for pump dealers and attendants, who often found themselves held accountable for the unrecovered shortages.
A critical detail uncovered during police inquiries revealed that the suspects affixed stolen registration number plates to their vehicles prior to each hit. By driving vehicles bearing swapped or stolen numbers, the pair managed to mask their actual identities, rendering surveillance camera footage temporarily ineffective and creating a substantial hurdle for investigators. However, through rigorous technical analysis, digital footprint tracing, and ground-level intelligence, police teams managed to piece together their trail and apprehend both individuals.
Sprawling Crime Spree Across Several Neighborhoods
Rather than confining their activities to a single locality, the duo operated across a wide territorial radius within the city. Their pattern of drive-offs stretched across multiple police station jurisdictions, including Mansarovar, Sodala, Sikar Road, and Vaishali Nagar, alongside the Bindayaka, Harmada, and Karni Vihar sectors. By striking at over 20 separate retail fuel pumps spread over varied quarters of the capital, the suspects had disrupted standard commercial routines and triggered serious concern among local petroleum trade operators.
Thrills and Joyrides Behind the Offenses
During initial interrogations, the suspects disclosed that their primary motive was leisure and pleasure trips. Wanting to cruise across the city without spending personal money, they resorted to cheating fuel stations to support their aimless travel. Police are now scrutinizing the exact inventory of vehicles deployed during these runs and verifying the original sources from where the stolen registration plates were procured. Inquiries are also underway to ascertain if the duo operated with other accomplices or had involvement in prior criminal records.
DCP West Prashant Kiran (IPS) detailed the development, stating that the coordinated intervention by the Bindayaka police and the DST unit successfully ended the spree. Authorities anticipate that ongoing questioning will shed light on several unresolved fuel theft occurrences across the broader metropolitan area and expose the full chain of vehicle tampering involved in these actions.
