HPCL pipeline crude oil theft: 8 arrested in Rajasthan-Gujarat ATS bust
Synopsis
A six-month-long reconnaissance, a clandestine valve buried in a pit on barren land, and a cross-state supply chain stretching from Rajasthan to the Ahmedabad-Rajkot highway — the HPCL crude oil theft in Balotra was no opportunistic heist. The Gujarat ATS bust reveals a structured criminal network spanning Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh, raising serious questions about pipeline security on one of India's critical energy corridors.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat ATS and Rajasthan Police jointly arrested 8 people for allegedly stealing crude oil from an HPCL pipeline in Balotra district, Rajasthan .
The gang allegedly dug a pit near Kaludi village and installed an illegal valve on the pipeline to extract crude oil.
Accused reportedly confessed to stealing two tankers of crude oil, each 10 tonnes , within a single week.
ATS sources say the gang conducted six months of reconnaissance before executing the theft.
The stolen oil was allegedly sold to Govind Singh Chauhan of Beawar, Rajasthan, and moved along the Ahmedabad-Rajkot highway .
A case has been registered at Jasol police station ; investigation into the wider network is ongoing.
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS), working in coordination with the Rajasthan Police, has arrested eight members of an alleged interstate gang involved in stealing crude oil from an HPCL pipeline passing through Pachpadra tehsil of Balotra district, Rajasthan. The operation came to light on the night of 10 August, with the incident traced back to 9 August, and arrests formalised by 12 August 2025.
How the Gang Operated
According to investigators, the gang allegedly dug a deep pit on barren land near Kaludi village in Balotra district and installed an unauthorised valve on the HPCL pipeline to extract crude oil. During interrogation, the accused reportedly confessed to stealing two tankers of crude oil, each with a capacity of 10 tonnes, within a single week, before selling the stolen oil.
ATS sources said members of the gang had allegedly been conducting reconnaissance of the pipeline for approximately six months before executing the theft. The alleged prime accused, Ghanshyam Soni (54) of Nagalpur village, Mehsana district, Gujarat, reportedly stayed at the residence of co-accused Mukesh Kumar Meghwal (44) during the survey phase. Five other accused — Ranjeet Chaurasia, Ramesh Thakor, Sureji Thakor, Mahesh Thakor, and Dilip Yadav — allegedly camped at a roadside eatery near Tapra village in Balotra for around a month ahead of the operation.
The Arrest Trail
The ATS received intelligence that individuals from Gujarat and Rajasthan were jointly stealing crude oil from the HPCL pipeline and selling it along the Ahmedabad-Rajkot highway. Acting on this, the ATS team detained Jaysinh Chudasama (34) of Dhoraji, Rajkot district, on the road near Sokhda village close to Kuwadva. During questioning, he allegedly disclosed that the crude oil in his possession had been sourced from Kaludi village.
The ATS subsequently coordinated with Rajasthan Police and detained seven other alleged gang members at a roadside eatery near Tapra village in Balotra. All accused were taken to Jasol police station for questioning, where they allegedly admitted to illegally tapping the HPCL pipeline.
HPCL Confirmation and FIR
HPCL officials were informed following the arrests. A joint inspection by HPCL personnel and Rajasthan Police reportedly confirmed the presence of an illegally installed valve on the pipeline. A case was registered at Jasol police station based on a complaint filed by Shravan Kumar Jat (24), a security supervisor at the refinery.
The stolen crude oil was allegedly sold to Govind Singh Chauhan, a resident of Beawar, Rajasthan. Investigators are working to determine the total quantity of oil stolen, the financial transactions involved, and whether similar tapping attempts were made at other points along the HPCL pipeline.
The Accused: Full Identities
The eight arrested individuals are: Ghanshyam Soni (54), Nagalpur, Mehsana, Gujarat; Ramesh Thakor (41), Chalasan, Gujarat; Mahesh Thakor (32), Chalasan, Gujarat; Sureji Thakor (32), Jotana, Gujarat; Jaysinh Chudasama (34), Dhoraji, Rajkot, Gujarat; Mukesh Kumar Meghwal (44), originally from Jaswantpura, Jalore district, Rajasthan, residing in Ahmedabad; Ranjeet Chaurasia (48), Kalol, Gandhinagar, Gujarat; and Dilip Yadav (35), Aaspur, Etawah district, Uttar Pradesh. The gang spans at least three states — Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh — underscoring the operation's interstate character.
Investigations are ongoing into the gang's wider network and whether additional conspirators remain at large.
Point of View
A buried valve, and a ready buyer in Beawar — suggests this was not a first attempt and likely not an isolated network. HPCL pipelines traverse some of the most remote terrain in Rajasthan, making physical surveillance difficult and tapping relatively low-risk for organised gangs. The fact that a security supervisor's complaint triggered the FIR, rather than HPCL's own detection systems, points to a gap in pipeline monitoring infrastructure that the company will need to address. With investigators still probing the volume of oil stolen and the full financial trail, the eight arrests may be only the visible tip of a larger syndicate.
NationPress
12 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the HPCL pipeline crude oil theft case in Rajasthan?
An interstate gang allegedly tapped an HPCL crude oil pipeline in Pachpadra tehsil, Balotra district, Rajasthan, by digging a pit and installing an illegal valve near Kaludi village. Eight members were arrested by the Gujarat ATS in coordination with Rajasthan Police, with the incident traced to 9 August 2025.
How did the Gujarat ATS crack the crude oil theft case?
The ATS received intelligence about individuals from Gujarat and Rajasthan stealing crude oil and selling it along the Ahmedabad-Rajkot highway. They first detained Jaysinh Chudasama near Sokhda village, who allegedly led them to the source in Balotra, after which seven more suspects were picked up at a roadside eatery near Tapra village.
How much crude oil was allegedly stolen?
The accused reportedly confessed to stealing two tankers of crude oil, each with a capacity of 10 tonnes, within a single week. Investigators are still working to determine the total quantity stolen over the gang's full period of operation.
Who are the eight people arrested in the HPCL pipeline theft?
The arrested individuals are Ghanshyam Soni (54) of Mehsana, Gujarat; Ramesh Thakor (41) and Mahesh Thakor (32) and Sureji Thakor (32) of Chalasan/Jotana, Gujarat; Jaysinh Chudasama (34) of Rajkot, Gujarat; Mukesh Kumar Meghwal (44) originally from Jalore, Rajasthan; Ranjeet Chaurasia (48) of Gandhinagar, Gujarat; and Dilip Yadav (35) of Etawah, Uttar Pradesh.
What happens next in the investigation?
Police and the ATS are investigating the gang's wider network, the total financial transactions involved, and whether similar illegal tapping attempts were made at other points along the HPCL pipeline. The alleged buyer of the stolen oil, Govind Singh Chauhan of Beawar, Rajasthan, is also under scrutiny.
