Diesel worth Rs 51 lakh concealed as ‘edible oil’ seized at Mumbai-Nashik Highway, 8 booked

Thane: In a major crackdown on an alleged fuel trafficking network, Thane enforcement agencies have busted a suspected diesel smuggling racket operating on the Mumbai-Nashik Highway, seizing over 54,000 litres of the fuel in two coordinated raids at Kharegaon and Kasara.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the administration said the accused allegedly attempted to conceal the consignments by falsely labelling them as “edible oil” to evade detection in both cases.

In the first operation at Kharegaon, a tanker carrying 25,000 litres of diesel worth around Rs 25 lakh was intercepted on May 21 following a tip-off.

A senior district official said, “During inspection, we found diesel in the compartment, but the tanker was deceptively labelled as edible oil. Initial probe revealed the fuel was loaded from Virar and was being transported towards Nashik.”

In a parallel operation near the Chintamanwadi police outpost under Kasara limits, authorities intercepted another tanker carrying 29,000 litres of diesel valued at Rs 26.26 lakh. Acting on intelligence, police stopped the vehicle en route to Nashik and found diesel stored in multiple compartments on May 16.

“Around 29,000 litres was seized. The driver admitted the fuel was being transported on the instructions of the owner for delivery to Surjagad mines in Gadchiroli,” an official informed.

A district official said that as the fuel was sourced and moved without mandatory safety norms or legal procedures, separate cases were registered against eight persons by the Kalwa police and against the driver and truck owner by the Kasara Police. Further investigations are underway, officials said.

Meanwhile, District Collector Dr. Shrikrishna Panchal and District Supply Officer Sarjerao Mhaske-Patil assured adequate fuel availability and urged citizens not to panic, warning of strict action against illegal transport and hoarding.