The kingpin of duplicate lPG cylinder factory busted in Urla area in the month of January this year was sent to seven days’ police remand on Sunday. Police would now present Nachiket Tapadiya, alias Montu, in court on June 29. He was arrested in Nagpur on Saturday night from where he was brought to Raipur on Sunday and was presented in the court.
Notably, district food department on January 9 had raided a factory in Bhanpuri area and seized about 1500 gas cylinders under manufacturing or finished stages.
In the factory, spread over area of 25000 sqft, seals of Indian Oil Corporation and Hindustan Petroleum were also recovered. Montu Tapadiya was on the run since then. The market value of cylinders and machinery was estimated in several corers.
The unearthing of the factory had created panic as soon as it became clear that several duplicate cylinders were already sent in market. later a case against Montu Tapadiya was registered with Khamtarai police station. Meanwhile, sources in the police department informed that Tapadiya moved from one state to other during his hiding period.
He also took shelter in Chandrahasini temple in the state and in a Dharmashala in Hyderabad. Police have also seized four mobile phones from his possession whose call details are being sought. Recently few days back Inspector General of Police (Raipur) GP Singh had instructed cops to intensify search for Tapadiya.
A couple of days back the Central Crime Branch (CCB) received inputs that Tapadiya was frequently visiting house of a man in Nagpur. Accordingly, a trap was laid and Tapadiya was nabbed on Saturday night from Nagpur city.
Now, after Tapadiya has been arrested several other person and officials of gas agencies who were supporting the gas factory would be exposed, police sources said.