DGP RP Sharma on Friday ordered for stringent action against the filling station owners who are found to be tampering with the fuel dispensing machines by using electronic chips and other gadgets.
In order to streamline the system and check this illicit practice, Dr Sharma ordered the district Superintendents of Police and the DCPs to take stern action against the unscrupulous petrol pump owners and prosecute them under Sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC) and under the Odisha Weights and Measures (Enforcement) Act, 1951 and any other relevant law as the case may be.
The DGP also asked the senior police officials to instruct their field functionaries to take stock of intelligence inputs in the matter and register criminal cases against the offenders.
Notably, there have been frequent allegations by people on the adulteration of petrol pump products as well as manipulation in the petrol pump dispensing system by use of microchips, electronic device and remote sensors.
It is learnt from intelligence sources that some petrol pump retailers in connivance with some unscrupulous persons plant electronic gadgets to manipulate the calibration system of dispensing pump which amounts to forgery of electronic documents.
By forging such electronic systems, they use to cheat customers regularly by way of collecting full price for lesser quantity of commodity.
The DGP has viewed it seriously. He has also emphasised on proper coordination between officers of the Civil Supplies and legal Metrology (Weights and Measures) Departments for joint verification and registration of cases appropriately.
Sharma has further instructed the SPs and the DCPs to submit the result of such enforcement every month to the CID, CB or through special reports.
It might be mentioned that the Union Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas had informed the State Government that 86 petrol pumps had, meanwhile, used chips to cheat customers.