Illegal LPG storage unit busted in south Delhi, 2 held
In a major crackdown on illegal storage of hazardous materials, Delhi Police have unearthed an unauthorised LPG cylinder stockpile in south Delhi’s Rajpur Khurd, seizing 223 cylinders and arresting two men accused of running the operation without any licence.
The raid, carried out on Tuesday by a Special Staff team, exposed what officials described as a serious public safety threat in a densely populated area.
Deputy Commissioner of Police (South) Anant Mittal said the operation was part of a focused drive against illegal storage and black marketing. “We are committed to strict action against such unlawful activities. Storing LPG cylinders in this manner poses a grave danger to residents,” he said.
Acting on specific intelligence, the police team raided a plot located in Generator Wali Gali. During the search, officers found hundreds of LPG cylinders stacked inside the premises, which were operating without any authorisation. The total seizure included 223 Indane cylinders: 16 filled domestic cylinders, 45 empty domestic cylinders, and 162 empty commercial cylinders. An electronic weighing machine and eight safety caps were also recovered from the site.
Officials said the setup indicated possible hoarding or illegal distribution of LPG cylinders, which are regulated under strict safety and supply norms. “The premises were clearly being used as an illegal storage unit. There were no safety measures in place,” a senior officer said, adding that such stockpiling significantly increases the risk of fire or explosion.
Two accused, identified as Hitesh Rathi (38) and Arvind Kumar (40), were apprehended during the raid. During initial questioning, both failed to produce any valid licence or documents to justify possession of such a large quantity of LPG cylinders. Police said the absence of proper ventilation, fire safety equipment, and regulatory approvals made the storage highly dangerous for nearby residents.
Officials from the Food Supply and Consumer Affairs Department and representatives of Indane Gas were called to the spot to verify and count the seized cylinders. Authorities confirmed that the cylinders were genuine but had been stored in violation of safety norms and essential commodity regulations.
A case has been registered at Maidan Garhi Police Station under Sections 287, 288, and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, along with Section 7 of the Essential Commodities Act. Investigators are now probing the supply chain of the cylinders and whether they were diverted from authorised distributors for illegal sale or the black market.
