DIMAPUR, JUNE 29 (MExN): The Against Corruption and Unabated Taxation (ACAUT) Nagaland has submitted a representation to the Commissioner of Police Dimapur on the issue of fuel adulteration.
The ACAUT, in its representation expressed hope that the district administration and the police are “more than capable of withstanding such pressures” that might hinder investigation into the matter.
The ACAUT demanded that all the “kingpins” of the fuel adulteration racket be immediately arrested within 7 days from the day the raid was carried out.
“The assets and properties of these individuals must be sealed till the investigation is complete as in all likelihood these were procured through illegal means and upon establishing the guilt of the accused persons the assets must be proportionally auctioned off,” the ACAUT said.
Informing that the racket is an inter-state operation, the ACAUT said complicity of high officials, including politicians should be thoroughly probed without fear or favour. “The names of all the kickback beneficiaries should be made public.”
It alleged that some of the kingpins are known to be running several fuel stations in various districts, including Dimapur. The ACAUT demanded that the names of all these fuel stations be revealed, sealed and then publicly auctioned off.
Further, it said that the “landlords being culpable in this adulteration racket seems highly plausible, therefore, apart from being prosecuted under relevant sections of the law, the district administration should seize the properties from where the adulteration was being carried out and the property auctioned off once culpability is established.”
It further alleged that the “complicity of the Food & Civil Supplies Department in this racket is beyond doubt.” “In all the raided premises, massive quantity of SK oil was found which indicates that SK Oil is being diverted to the black market for fuel adulteration purpose. Therefore, this angle should be thoroughly probed and the result made public within one week.”
The ACAUT informed that 19 tankers of various make with minimum 12,000 L capacities fully loaded with SK Oil (Bluecolour) were found inside the 6 premises. The minimum total of SK Oil calculable from these tankers is 228,000 litres, it added.
It further stated that tens of containers - 2000L and 1000L plastic tanks, above 5000 L iron containers, drums, and 12,000 L tanks were discovered filled with SK Oil amounting to not less than 150,000 litres. “If we calculate the approximate value of the seized SK oil in the open market @the rate of Rs. 50 per litre, it comes to around Rs. 2 Crores,” it said.
The ACAUT demanded that the seized SK Oil be distributed to the beneficiaries in all the districts, and the seized items, including the 19 fuel tankers be auctioned off. It may be noted that the ACAUT has so far filed FIRs in West PS and Diphupar PS. It has also lodged an FIR against the Food & Civil Supplies Department.
