Daijiworld Media Network - Karkala (JD)
Karkala, Jul 2: Shirva police have arrested three young men from Bengaluru for allegedly cheating a fuel station in Kurkal of Shankerpura by fleeing without paying for diesel worth Rs 4,711. The car used in the offence has also been seized.
The arrested have been identified as Mohammed Riyaz (26) of Kotekar, Shirva, Mohammed Afraz (23) of Bhutabettu, Shirva, and Ashil (21) of Ambagilu, Udupi.
According to police, the incident took place at around 9.10 pm on June 27 at Filling Station, a fuel bunk located at Subhash Nagar in Kurkalu village, Kaup taluk. The fuel station is managed by Ashish (27), a resident of Mangaluru, on behalf of its owner, Daniel C Ammanna.
Police said three persons arrived at the fuel station in a white Ford EcoSport (KA-14-MB-8452). One of the occupants seated in the rear asked the fuel station employee, Shashank, to fill the vehicle's tank with diesel.
After diesel worth Rs 4,711.09 was dispensed, the employee displayed the QR code for payment. The occupants allegedly scanned the code and asked for the bill. However, while the bill was being generated, they drove away without making the payment, allegedly cheating the fuel station.
Based on the complaint, Shirva police registered a case under Crime No. 56/2026 under Sections 316(2) and 318(4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023.
Acting on technical and other investigative leads, a police team led by Karkala DySP Vijay Prasad and Kaup Circle Inspector Azmath Ali, under the supervision of Shirva PSI Manjunath Marabada, along with PSI Lohith Kumar C S and staff members Harsha Bhat, Basavaraj and Dariyappa, tracked down the accused in Bengaluru.
Police also seized the Ford EcoSport allegedly used in the commission of the offence. The accused have been arrested and will be produced before the court.
Police said further investigation is in progress to ascertain whether the trio had carried out similar fuel payment frauds at other petrol pumps.