Jaipur, March 14 (NationPress) In response to a complaint lodged by Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL), the Rajasthan Special Operations Group (SOG) has successfully apprehended four individuals in connection with an attempted theft of petroleum from the IOCL KJPPL (KSPL) pipeline. Among those arrested is the alleged mastermind behind the operation.

According to Vishal Bansal, Additional Director General of Police (SOG), Jaipur, the attempted theft took place in August 2023 in the village of Ramgarh, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Sendra police station in Pali district. The case was formally registered at the SOG police station in Jaipur on August 5, 2023, following a report from Sher Singh Chauhan, Manager of IOCL in Beawar.

The complaint indicated that unknown individuals had breached the IOCL pipeline by welding a valve and flange pipe to it, intending to siphon off petroleum products. Given that the pipeline transports highly flammable materials, this act posed a significant fire hazard and the potential for a major accident.

Due to the seriousness of the situation, specialized investigation teams were established under the leadership of Paris Deshmukh, DIG (SOG), and were directed by Shyam Sundar Bishnoi, Additional Superintendent of Police (SOG Unit, Ajmer).

During the investigation, forensic teams examined the crime scene, analyzed technical evidence including BTS data, and interviewed local witnesses. As a result of both technical and human intelligence, four suspects involved in this conspiracy were arrested and placed in police custody for five days.

Authorities are also pursuing another suspect, Pankaj Vaghela from Ahmedabad (Gujarat), who allegedly performed the technical work of breaching the pipeline.

Interrogations revealed that the primary suspect, Jitendra Singh Rawat, along with accomplices Devendra Singh, Prem Singh, and Pratap Sher Singh, devised a plan to steal petroleum products by installing a valve on the pipeline.

Due to their lack of technical skills, they enlisted the help of Pankaj Vaghela, who had prior experience in similar crimes. Vaghela supposedly punctured the pipeline in an agricultural area of Ramgarh using specialized tools and installed a valve.

They connected a pipe to the valve to transfer petroleum into a nearby tanker. The suspects then attempted to hide the valve by covering it with soil and plowing the field to evade detection.

However, their attempt to siphon off petroleum was thwarted due to low flow in the pipeline. While trying to maneuver the tanker, it became stuck in marshy terrain, causing visible disturbances to the field, which ultimately raised suspicions.

The tampering was discovered during a routine inspection by IOCL personnel, prompting the suspects to flee their residences.

The individuals arrested include Jitendra Singh alias Jeetu Maharaj (31) from Nichla Badiya, Ramgarh Sedotan, PS Sendra, district Beawar; Devendra Singh (32) from Ramgarh Sedotan, PS Sendra, district Beawar; Pratap Sher Singh alias Sheru (36) from Kesharpura, PS Sendra, district Beawar; and Prem Singh (48) from Kesharpura, PS Sendra, district Beawar.

ADG Bansal noted that one of the suspects, Prem Singh Rawat, has been previously charged in five criminal cases, including two related to petroleum theft. Ongoing investigations are being conducted.