517 LPG Cylinders Seized in Rajkot Illegal Refilling Crackdown

Gujarat Police have dismantled an illegal LPG refilling network in Rajkot district, seizing 517 cylinders and related equipment worth Rs 9.29 lakh from eight sites in a residential area. Seven people have been arrested, and a list of 15 wanted accused has been issued.

The operation was carried out on Friday in Nehru Nagar, under the jurisdiction of Bhaktinagar police station. According to the State Monitoring Cell (SMC), domestic LPG cylinders were being refilled illegally inside houses and godowns. Officials stressed that because the activity was happening in a populated neighbourhood, there was a real danger of accidents and harm to life and property. For this reason, the SMC assigned two separate teams to the operation.

The raids followed directions from Director General of Police (DGP) G S Malik, who has ordered action against illegal activities across Gujarat. The operation was led by Police Sub-Inspectors S V Galchar and V N Jadeja.

Searches covered godowns and houses on lanes 2, 4, 6, 8 and 10 of Nehru Nagar. Locations associated with arrested accused Ramesh Chavda, Meram Chavda, Hardev Chavda, Amit Dangar and Ashish Gogra were checked. Police also raided godowns linked to wanted accused Praful Dangar, Dhirubhai Dangar and Umesh Boricha, and searched two warehouses belonging to Dhirubhai Dangar.

Police recovered 517 gas cylinders valued at Rs 9,29,100. Other items seized included 16 refilling pipes with nozzles, 44 stickers marked 'Reliance Gas', 48 cylinder caps, five electric motors, 12 electronic weighing scales, two regular scales, three vehicles, seven mobile phones, Rs 9,170 in cash and one spanner. The combined value of the seized property has been estimated at Rs 11,45,946.

On October 30, two separate FIRs were filed at Bhaktinagar police station against 22 accused. The cases invoke Sections 125, 287 and 54 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Sections 3 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, and Section 9(b)(1)(b) of the Explosives Act, 1884.

The seven arrested persons are Hardev Chavda, Meram Chavda and Ramesh Chavda, residents of New Gopalvandana, Lane 5, Rajkot; Rakesh Bishnoi of Chitbera in Jodhpur, Rajasthan; Puran Nath Kori of Shivshakti Forging on Dhebar Road, Rajkot; Amit Dangar of Nehru Nagar Lane 8; and Ashish Gogara of Nehru Nagar Lane 10.

The 15 wanted accused include Raju Solanki and Karan Lavadiya linked to Jaiman Gas Agency, Mangabhai linked to Madhuram Gas Agency, Arvind Nat linked to Jai Bhim Gas Agency, Hitesh Chavda linked to AGS Pure Gas Agency, and Shailesh Chavda linked to Madhuram Gas Agency. Also named are Chandubhai Rathod, Jitendra Jariwala, Dhirubhai Raydhanbhai Dangar, Praful Naranbhai Dangar, Umeshbhai Prabhatbhai Boricha, Sanjay Chavda, Sanjay Rajput, Raj and Tajuddin.

Police also found earlier cases against two of the arrested accused. Meram Chavda was booked at Bhaktinagar police station in 2015, while cases against Ramesh Gagubhai Chavda were registered in 2021 at Atkot and Dhoraji police stations in Rajkot district.

The SMC has said that further action is underway against all those named in the cases.