NT NETWORK
PANAJI
The Panaji police have claimed to have busted a racket in the illegal supply of diesel on Friday at the Captain of Ports jetty, Panaji.
Five persons have been arrested while a tanker containing 6000 litres of diesel worth around Rs 3 lakh has been attached.
Sources said the raid was conducted at the Captain of Ports jetty in the city at around 7 am on Friday. The tanker came from Margao to supply diesel to an offshore casino.
The raid was conducted by the Panaji police team under the supervision of deputy superintendent of police Serafin Dias.
The accused have been identified as Abdul Karim (64), P K Mohammad Shaik (54), Abdul Kadar Gukamlisha (42) all from Dovorlim, Salcete, and Nazir Shaik (40) from Zaurinagar-Sancole and Shakeel Naik (32) from Britona.
More arrests are likely in this case, the police have said.
“The tanker driver P K Mohammad Shaik could not produce valid documents to show from where the diesel was procured, and as such we suspect it to be stolen fuel,” said Dias who is the investigating officer in the case. Dias said the accused are being questioned to ascertain the fuel source and since when the fuel has been supplied in such a manner.
“We suspect involvement of more people in the case. We are also looking into the role of some offshore casino employees in connection with the case,” Dias said.
The tanker driver was arrested first and later four others after their names came to the fore.
The accused have been booked under the IPC for theft, criminal conspiracy, and also under the Essential Commodities Act and the Petroleum Act.