Daijiworld Media Network - Mumbai
Mumbai, Jun 14: Police have registered a case against the manager of a gas distribution agency in Mumbai for allegedly misappropriating more than 5,800 commercial gas cylinders valued at around Rs 90 lakh, officials said.
The case was registered by Bangur Nagar Police following a complaint filed by the owner of a gas agency operating in Goregaon. The agency maintains a storage facility near Malad Back Road where cylinders are kept before being supplied to customers.
According to the complaint, the accused, identified as Kishan Ram, was employed as the manager of the godown and was responsible for maintaining inventory records. A resident of Rajasthan, Ram had been working with the agency since August 2022.
The facility stores different categories of cylinders, including 5-kg and 19-kg commercial cylinders as well as 14-kg domestic cylinders. Delivery personnel transport filled cylinders to customers and return empty cylinders to the godown. Ram's duties included monitoring the movement of both filled and empty cylinders and maintaining accurate records of stock.
The alleged irregularities came to light after restrictions were imposed on gas cylinder distribution following the outbreak of the Iran conflict. The public sector oil and gas company for which the complainant serves as a distributor had directed all distributors to maintain strict records and promptly return empty cylinders.
The agency owner claimed that these instructions were conveyed to Ram. However, when asked about the status of empty cylinders that were supposed to be returned, Ram reportedly provided unclear and evasive responses.
Suspecting discrepancies, the complainant personally reviewed the inventory records and allegedly discovered that a large number of empty cylinders had not been returned to the oil and gas company. When confronted, Ram allegedly suggested a “settlement” regarding the discrepancies.
A detailed audit of the records revealed that 4,543 commercial cylinders weighing 5 kg, valued at approximately Rs 43.43 lakh, and 1,294 commercial cylinders weighing 19 kg, valued at around Rs 46.58 lakh, could not be accounted for.
Police said the missing cylinders together amounted to a loss of nearly Rs 90 lakh.
Investigators further learned that Ram resigned from his position on June 1 and subsequently became unreachable after switching off his mobile phone.
Following the discovery of the alleged misappropriation, the agency owner approached Bangur Nagar Police, who registered an FIR and launched an investigation into the matter.
Police are currently examining records and tracing the accused to determine the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the cylinders and whether others were involved in the alleged fraud.