Gujarat Police seize ₹2.13 crore adulterated biodiesel in Junagadh raids, 8 arrested
Synopsis
Gujarat's State Monitoring Cell dismantled what authorities describe as a coordinated adulterated biodiesel network across Junagadh district in a single Sunday sweep — seizing over 30,000 litres of suspect fuel, 15 vehicles, and ₹2.13 crore in total assets, while arresting eight people. With five suspects still at large, the crackdown exposes the scale of illicit fuel operations hiding in plain sight along Gujarat's highway corridors.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat Police's State Monitoring Cell raided three locations in Junagadh district on 19 July , seizing assets worth ₹2,13,48,880 .
A total of 30,970 litres of suspected adulterated biodiesel was recovered across the three sites.
Eight people were arrested ; five others — including Pappu alias Parbat Natha Solanki — remain wanted.
The largest single-location seizure by value — ₹1,34,31,500 — was at Neelkanth Transport, Manavadar , driven by 13 vehicles recovered from the premises.
FIRs filed under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023 , the Essential Commodities Act , and the Explosives Act, 1884 .
Authorities warned the illegal fuel poses risks of air pollution, engine damage, groundwater contamination , and fire or explosion hazards .
The Gujarat Police's State Monitoring Cell on Sunday, 19 July conducted coordinated raids at three locations in Junagadh district, seizing suspected adulterated biodiesel and related assets valued at over ₹2.13 crore. A total of eight people were arrested and five others named as wanted accused in connection with the alleged illegal fuel trade.
Scale of the Operation
Across the three sites, officers recovered 30,970 litres of suspected adulterated biodiesel — described as an illegally manufactured inflammable petroleum liquid being passed off as diesel — along with seven electric motors, 15 vehicles including trucks and a bus, nine liquid storage tanks, cash of ₹58,250, five mobile phones, and other equipment. The total estimated value of all seized property stood at ₹2,13,48,880.
Raid-by-Raid Breakdown
The largest haul came from Shivkrupa Traders, located at Bhavani Complex on the Gadu-Maliya road, where 18,300 litres of suspected fuel, along with dispensing machines, four vehicles, and five storage tanks were seized — total value ₹51,78,560. Four individuals — Shahilkha Ligari, Arjunkumar Galchar, Nareshkumar Dabhi, and Raju Rada — were arrested. Pappu alias Parbat Natha Solanki and an unidentified alleged supplier remain wanted.
At Radhe Enterprise, beside Vrindavan Hotel on the Gadu-Chorwad Highway in Maliya (Hatina) taluka, police recovered 10,070 litres of suspected adulterated biodiesel and assets worth ₹27,38,820. Faruk Dal and Lakha Kodiyatar were arrested; Gautam Karetha, Bharat Koriya, and Anwar Hothi are named as wanted.
The third site, Neelkanth Transport on Mitdi Road in Manavadar, yielded 2,600 litres of suspected fuel along with 13 vehicles — the vehicle count driving a seizure valuation of ₹1,34,31,500, the highest single-location figure. Somil Bhimani and Jitesh Chauhan were arrested there.
Legal Sections Invoked
FIRs have been registered at Chorwad Police Station and Manavadar Police Station under Sections 287, 288, and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, Sections 3 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act, and Section 9(B)(1)(B) of the Explosives Act, 1884. Police indicated that additional accused identified during the ongoing investigation will face legal action.
Why Authorities Say This Matters
The State Monitoring Cell stated that the sale of illegally manufactured or adulterated biodiesel is prohibited in Gujarat. Officials warned that such fuel increases toxic emissions and air pollution, risks contaminating land and groundwater through improper chemical disposal, can damage vehicle engines, and raises the likelihood of fires and explosions due to improper storage of inflammable substances. 'Such illegal trade causes loss of government revenue and adversely affects the legitimate fuel business,' officials said. This operation signals a broader crackdown on the state's illicit fuel supply chain.
Point of View
With a supply chain that remains partially intact — five accused are still at large. The invocation of the Explosives Act alongside the Essential Commodities Act signals that authorities are treating this not merely as an economic offence but a public safety threat. The real test of this crackdown is whether investigators trace the supply chain upstream to the manufacturers, or whether the arrests stop at the retail nodes while the source continues operating. Gujarat's fuel adulteration problem is not new; without upstream accountability, seizure operations risk becoming periodic disruptions rather than structural deterrents.
NationPress
20 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Gujarat adulterated biodiesel raids?
Police seized 30,970 litres of suspected adulterated biodiesel, 15 vehicles, 7 electric motors, 9 storage tanks, cash of ₹58,250, and other equipment across three locations in Junagadh district on 19 July. The total estimated value of all seized property was ₹2,13,48,880.
Who was arrested in the Junagadh biodiesel crackdown?
Eight people were arrested: Shahilkha Ligari, Arjunkumar Galchar, Nareshkumar Dabhi, and Raju Rada from Shivkrupa Traders; Faruk Dal and Lakha Kodiyatar from Radhe Enterprise; and Somil Bhimani and Jitesh Chauhan from Neelkanth Transport. Five others, including Pappu alias Parbat Natha Solanki, remain wanted.
Under which laws were the FIRs registered?
FIRs were registered under Sections 287, 288, and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; Sections 3 and 7 of the Essential Commodities Act; and Section 9(B)(1)(B) of the Explosives Act, 1884. Cases were filed at both Chorwad and Manavadar Police Stations.
Why is adulterated biodiesel considered dangerous?
According to the State Monitoring Cell, adulterated biodiesel increases toxic emissions and air pollution, can contaminate land and groundwater through improper disposal of production chemicals, risks damaging vehicle engines, and raises the probability of fires or explosions due to the inflammable nature of the substance when stored illegally.
Which location had the highest-value seizure in the Junagadh raids?
Neelkanth Transport on Mitdi Road in Manavadar recorded the highest single-location seizure value at ₹1,34,31,500, primarily due to 13 vehicles recovered from the premises. By volume, Shivkrupa Traders on Gadu-Maliya road yielded the largest quantity of suspected fuel at 18,300 litres.
