Following the seizure of around 18,000 litres of adulterated fuel from a private godown at Kunnamangalam in Kozhikode, the police are on the lookout for suspected wholesale buyers and suppliers of cheap fuel in the district.
Preliminary investigations following the seizure of a huge stock on Tuesday (January 7) evening reportedly revealed that a few boat operators and owners of machines used in granite quarries were regular buyers of the allegedly stored and subsidised fuel.
“Two accused identified as E. Nisar, 35, and Ali Alathiyoor, 35, have revealed that the seized fuel was brought from Palakkad. Further investigations are required to identify the chemicals used and the supplier network,” said a senior police officer from the Kunnamangalam station.
He added that experts from Hindustan Petroleum examined the seized stock on Tuesday and Wednesday to identify its contents, which could damage vehicles and increase pollution. Following their suggestions, samples were sent to the Regional Chemical Examiner’s Laboratory in Kozhikode for analysis. He said action against the suspects would be initiated after reviewing the lab report.
The storage of adulterated fuel was uncovered after Assistant Commissioner of Police A. Umesh received a tip-off, leading to a flash inspection near Nechipoyil at Kunnamangalam. The fuel godown, reportedly leased from a Kozhikode native, housed 12 storage tanks. The suppliers also operated door-to-door fuel delivery vehicles.
Published – January 08, 2025 10:45 pm IST
