Gujarat ATS, Rajasthan Police bust HPCL pipeline theft gang; 8 arrested
Synopsis
A cross-state criminal network allegedly drilled into an HPCL crude oil pipeline in Rajasthan's Balotra district, fitted an illegal valve in a concealed pit, and was smuggling stolen crude to Gujarat for sale along the Ahmedabad-Rajkot highway — until a Gujarat ATS-led joint operation netted all eight accused.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat ATS and Rajasthan Police jointly busted an interstate crude oil theft network on 11 August .
Eight people were arrested, hailing from Gujarat , Rajasthan , and Uttar Pradesh .
Accused allegedly punctured an HPCL crude oil pipeline in Kaludi village, Balotra district , fitting an illegal valve in a 3-4 foot deep pit .
Stolen oil was being transported to Gujarat for sale along the Ahmedabad-Rajkot highway .
Case registered under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita , the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines Act , and the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act .
Investigation is ongoing to identify and trace other alleged members of the network.
The Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad (ATS) and Rajasthan Police have dismantled an alleged interstate criminal network that was illegally tapping an HPCL crude oil pipeline in Rajasthan's Balotra district and smuggling the stolen oil to Gujarat for sale, officials said on Tuesday, 11 August. A total of eight people have been arrested in connection with the operation.
How the Operation Unfolded
The crackdown was set in motion after Gujarat ATS Deputy Superintendent of Police S.L. Chaudhary received intelligence that individuals from both Gujarat and Rajasthan were allegedly conspiring to puncture an HPCL crude oil pipeline running through wasteland in Balotra. Senior ATS officers were alerted, and a joint team was assembled under the leadership of Superintendent of Police K. Siddharth, with DSP Chaudhary overseeing field operations.
The team's first breakthrough came near Sokhada village on the Ahmedabad-Rajkot highway, where a suspect was detained under Section 35(1) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023. During questioning, the individual allegedly revealed that the crude oil found in his possession had been transported from Kaludi village in Balotra district.
The Pipeline Breach
Acting on the suspect's disclosures, the ATS tracked down seven more alleged members of the network at a roadside dhaba near Tapra in Rajasthan and brought them to Jasol Police Station. The accused allegedly admitted to digging a three-to-four-foot-deep pit in wasteland within the limits of Kaludi village in Parpadar taluka, where they punctured the HPCL pipeline and fitted an illegal valve to siphon off crude oil.
ATS officials subsequently notified HPCL and, alongside Rajasthan Police, inspected the site. The illegally installed valve, connected to the punctured pipeline inside the pit, was recovered, according to police.
Charges Filed and Accused Identified
A case has been registered at Jasol Police Station under multiple provisions, including Sections 303(2), 287, and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023; Sections 15(1), 15(2), 15(4), and 16 of the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Amendment Act, 2011; and Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984.
The eight arrested individuals have been identified as: Ghanshyam Soni, 54, of Nagalpur, Mehsana; Jayrajsinh Chudasama, 34, of Dhoraji, Rajkot; Mukesh Kumar Meghwal, 44, originally from Jaswantpura, Jalore (Rajasthan), residing in Pabunagar, Ahmedabad; Ranjit Chaurasia, 48, of Kalol, Gandhinagar; Ramesh Thakur, 41, of Chalasana, Mehsana; Sureji Thakur, 32, of Jotana, Mehsana; Mahesh Thakur, 32, of Chalasana, Mehsana; and Dilip Yadav, 35, of Aspur, Etawah, Uttar Pradesh.
Investigation Ongoing
Police confirmed that the investigation is continuing, with authorities working to identify and apprehend other individuals allegedly connected to the network. The cross-state profile of the accused — spanning Gujarat, Rajasthan, and Uttar Pradesh — points to a well-organised operation that had likely been active for some time before detection.
Point of View
Buyers, and logistics. The Balotra case is notable for its cross-state architecture: recruits from UP, operators from Rajasthan, and a ready market in Gujarat, all linked by a single illegal valve. What the investigation must now establish is how long the tap was running and how much crude was lost — figures that will determine the true scale of the theft and whether HPCL's pipeline monitoring systems flagged any anomaly before the ATS tip-off. If they did not, the infrastructure security question is as important as the criminal one.
NationPress
11 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was the HPCL pipeline theft case in Rajasthan?
An alleged interstate gang punctured an HPCL crude oil pipeline in Kaludi village, Balotra district, Rajasthan, by digging a concealed pit and fitting an illegal valve to siphon off crude oil. The stolen oil was then transported to Gujarat for sale along the Ahmedabad-Rajkot highway.
Who was arrested in the Gujarat ATS pipeline bust?
Eight people were arrested: Ghanshyam Soni (Mehsana), Jayrajsinh Chudasama (Rajkot), Mukesh Kumar Meghwal (Ahmedabad, originally from Jalore), Ranjit Chaurasia (Gandhinagar), Ramesh Thakur, Sureji Thakur, and Mahesh Thakur (all from Mehsana), and Dilip Yadav (Etawah, Uttar Pradesh).
What charges have been filed in the HPCL pipeline theft case?
The case was registered at Jasol Police Station under Sections 303(2), 287, and 61(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita 2023; Sections 15(1), 15(2), 15(4), and 16 of the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines Amendment Act 2011; and Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act 1984.
How did the Gujarat ATS uncover the pipeline theft network?
Gujarat ATS Deputy SP S.L. Chaudhary received intelligence about the alleged conspiracy. A joint team led by SP K. Siddharth detained the first suspect near Sokhada village on the Ahmedabad-Rajkot highway, whose questioning led to the arrest of seven more accused at a dhaba near Tapra in Rajasthan.
Is the investigation into the HPCL pipeline theft still ongoing?
Yes. Police confirmed the investigation is continuing to identify and trace other individuals allegedly involved in the network. The cross-state profile of the arrested accused suggests authorities believe more members may still be at large.
